Jeremy’s story is straight out of the “bet on yourself” playbook. From growing up in tough circumstances to building a $14M powerhouse with Encore Search Partners, he’s turned every obstacle into fuel for growth. We get into how he built his executive search firm from scratch, the marketing smarts that gave him an edge, and the leadership lessons that helped him scale through downturns and even COVID. Beyond business, Jeremy opens up about his engagement, family, and his surprisingly serious pickleball game. It’s a raw, inspiring look at grit, growth, and the kind of mindset it takes to turn zero into $14 million.
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Two Martins. Two worlds. One wild conversation. Scotland meets Mexico as Jeremy Funk sits down with Martín Luna Rivera and Martin MacRae from James Fisher AIS for a hilarious, heartfelt chat about life, culture, and tech. From Aberdeen pubs to Mexico City traffic, they swap stories about growing up worlds apart, navigating careers in oil and gas, and finding common ground in family, food, and Formula One. It’s equal parts culture clash and camaraderie, with plenty of laughs and global perspective along the way.
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00:00 - Intro
02:05 - Martin MacRae Insights
07:08 - Martin Luna Perspectives
11:42 - Serendipity in Business
13:56 - COVID Impact in Scotland
17:22 - COVID Challenges in Mexico
22:12 - COVID Effects on AIS
25:40 - Positive Changes Post-COVID
27:49 - Zoom Technologies Discussion
28:34 - Hobbies Outside Work
30:03 - Formula 1 Enthusiasm
34:25 - Driving on the Left Side
36:11 - Haggis Culture
42:24 - AIS and James Fisher Partnership
45:05 - Acquisition by Larger Company
47:28 - Finding James Fisher AIS Online
48:31 - End of Show
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Kinetics Controls & Innovation Limited isn’t your average oil and gas maintenance company, they’re the guys quietly rewriting the playbook. Kevin Watt and Graham Steele stopped by to talk about how their Scotland-based team is bringing some seriously smart well integrity solutions to the U.S. oilfields. With over 20 years in the game, they’ve seen it all, wellhead problems, aging assets, safety risks, and they’ve built tech and processes to tackle them head-on. We got into KCI’s journey, their plans to shake up American operations, and how they’re blending innovation with sustainability. Oh, and Graham’s U.S. road trip? It’s going to be one to watch.
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Reed’s story is one of those classic oil patch tales with a modern twist, starting out fixing wells on a tight budget and somehow turning that grind into building his own company. He grew up around oil, gas, and cattle, and instead of running from it, he leaned all the way in, carving out his own path with Jaybird Resources. What makes him stand out isn’t just his business chops, but the way he refuses to play by anyone else’s rulebook, owning who he is while chasing bold ideas like modular refineries. This conversation is full of grit, humor, and the kind of honesty you only get from someone balancing business, family, and life in South Texas, all while redefining what it means to be an oilman today.
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Justin’s story is all about turning struggle into strength. After racking up over 1,400 days of sobriety, he’s faced the heavy loss of both parents and some huge life shifts, yet somehow, he’s managed to carve out a sense of peace and purpose in the middle of it all. Growing up as an athlete and later working in management consulting, Justin learned discipline, resilience, and how to channel energy in ways that lift both himself and others. We talked about what it really means to live with intention, find joy in the present, and create momentum even when life feels uncertain. It’s a raw, uplifting conversation that reminds you how powerful acceptance can be when you’re trying to find your flow.
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From Spring, Texas to the helm of his own startup, Tyler’s journey is all about turning big ideas into real change for oil and gas. He cut his teeth at LSU, sharpened his skills leading innovative projects at EOG Resources, and now with CT Evolution, he’s tackling downhole logistics in a way that’s shaking up how operators and service companies work together. We got into the grit of launching a business, the headaches and breakthroughs of bringing patented tools to market, and how those innovations are unlocking better reservoir and production diagnostics. It’s part startup grind, part industry insight, and part “how the hell did you even think of that?”, all with a good dose of humor along the way.
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What happens when a Chico kid with a dream and a serious work ethic decides to shake up the local bar scene? You get Sebastian Tamarelle, owner of The Banshee and B Street Public House and the kind of guy who didn’t set out to lead but ended up becoming a community pillar anyway. Jeremy sits down with his childhood buddy to swap stories, talk shop, and dig into everything from ditching the corporate grind to surviving post-COVID curveballs. You’ll hear what it’s really like to run two of the town’s most iconic spots, how a surprise visit from Guy Fieri changed everything, and why staying grounded might just be the secret sauce to Sebastian’s success.
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Relationships are at the heart of everything Mary does, from building out tech solutions in oil and gas to swapping baking tips and golf stories. We got into how she went from Baltimore to becoming the face of Welland, the consulting firm making data reporting way less painful with tools like Unidata and SQL (but don't worry, she keeps it human). Mary’s one of those people who makes remote work look effortless, balancing serious technical chops with genuine connection. Also, her dog’s name is Drago, which basically makes her cooler than all of us.
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Running a company that’s shaking up oil and gas with AI is wild enough, but try doing that on zero sleep with a newborn in the house. That’s life for Josh Politte, who somehow manages to lead ACT Solutions & Consulting while changing diapers and dodging spit-up. He shares stories from a globe-spanning career (50+ countries!), the year Egypt cracked open his worldview, and how he went from petroleum engineer to Microsoft-powered problem solver. We get into why tech in this industry actually matters, how AI isn't just a buzzword, and why being a new dad might just be the ultimate crash course in leadership.
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Steve Cooper went from mining rocks in the UK to mining insights in the oil and gas world, building and eventually selling EnergyIQ, a company that tackled the chaos of industry data before COVID flipped the world upside down. He breaks down how a background in computer science and a bit of stubborn problem-solving turned into a business that stood out by actually giving a damn about data quality. Jeremy digs into the story behind the scenes, what it took to lead through downturns, why timing is everything, and what Steve’s up to now as he backs the next wave of clean energy and tech startups.
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What happens when two sharp minds from the oilfield and IT world team up to fix the clunky data problems plaguing oil and gas? You get Rivitt, an AI-powered game-changer that’s tackling inefficiencies, boosting safety, and making ops smoother than a fresh cup of frac fluid. Jeremy sits down with the brains behind it, Steven and Clay, to talk about scrappy beginnings, bold ideas, and how a little bit of stubbornness (and a whole lot of late nights) turned into a tech company that’s shaking up the industry.
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Turning a sketch on a napkin into a $20 million energy tech company? That’s exactly what happened and the story’s wild. From navigating the chaos of startup life to hitting pause after a major health scare, this convo pulls back the curtain on the real grit behind building Westgen Technologies. We’re talking leadership lessons, coaching that actually worked, and a whole lot of figuring things out the hard way. Oh, and if you’re into solving big problems like powering up remote wellsites without trashing the planet, you’ll want to hear how Ben’s doing just that.
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Alzheimer’s is tough, but this episode is all about the people fighting back in the most unexpected ways, like hopping on a bike and riding for something bigger. We sat down with Brian from the Alzheimer’s Association and Steve, a cyclist whose mom’s diagnosis lit a fire in him to make a difference. From emotional stories to groundbreaking updates (think blood tests and FDA-approved meds), we cover the science, the personal, and the power of pedaling with purpose. Whether you're in it for the community, the cause, or the ride itself, this one’s got heart, hope, and a whole lot of impact.
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Vendor management in oil and gas is usually a mess of outdated systems and constant compliance headaches, but VenLink is flipping the script. We’re talking boots-on-the-ground experience turned into a sleek platform that’s using automation and AI to cut out the inefficiencies, slash risk, and give operators real-time visibility into their vendors. Joshua Owens, who’s been in the trenches with companies like Oxy and Parsley, built VenLink after years of watching vendor oversight go sideways. From rising insurance costs to stalled operations, he’s seen the ripple effects—and built a smarter way to manage it all. This one’s for anyone who’s tired of juggling spreadsheets and wants to see how tech can actually simplify things in the field.
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What do you get when a lifelong pilot and a fashion industry pro team up? Skycam Aviation, that’s what, an aerial imaging company that’s flipping the script on how we track methane leaks and monitor the world from above. They’re strapping HD video systems onto planes, zipping through the skies at 15,000 feet, and collecting jaw-dropping footage packed with data that actually matters. From detecting methane in oil fields to keeping tabs on agriculture and infrastructure, their gear isn’t just smart, it’s downright cinematic. Plus, their story is wild: think private jets, high fashion, and high-tech all mashed into one seriously cool origin story.
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From radio rigs in Army tents to running IT for a major oil and gas consulting firm, Curtis has had one hell of a ride, and he’s got the stories to prove it. He talks about swapping camo for keyboards, how military comms set the stage for his tech leadership style, and why he’s not sold on jumping on every shiny new AI trend. It’s a refreshingly no-BS look at what it really takes to lead tech teams in high-stakes environments, the power of practical problem-solving, and how staying grounded is just as important as staying cutting-edge.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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