The Real Deal Landman Show

Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Business
  • Updated Biweekly

The Real Deal Landman Show pulls back the curtain on the fascinating world of land and energy professionals, offering an authentic counterpoint to Hollywood's dramatized version. Join veteran landmen Jerris Johnson and Drew Hopkins as they serve up hilarious real-world stories, expert insights, and candid conversations with industry legends. From oil fields to renewable energy projects, discover the true adventures, challenges, and triumphs of the professionals who secure the energy future. Connect with the Real Deal Landman Show on LinkedIn and check out RealDealLandman.com

  1. Sep 15

    Episode 47: From Rock 'n' Roll to Wellhead Compute with Jon Taylor

    This episode kicks off with Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson breaking down the new baseball rule changes that are making games faster than NBA matchups. The conversation gets back on track when guest Jon Taylor reveals his past life as guitarist for a 1990s cover band called Modern Art, which toured the college circuit playing 250 shows a year and closing with Nine Inch Nails. Beyond his rock-and-roll roots, Jon is the Co-Founder of Blue Hawk Energy Solutions. Drawing on his background in media production and Bitcoin mine optimization training, Jon explains how Blue Hawk is facilitating transactions between oil and gas operators with stranded natural gas assets and digital compute developers. The episode walks through the exact physical setup at a wellhead mining site (reciprocating generators, transformers, CCAN containers, ASICs, and Starlink links) and contrasts small-scale stranded gas Bitcoin mining with large-scale AI powered land and data center development. Jon offers sharp insights on fixed-price gas contracts versus Waha hub volatility, navigating the overinflated "wedding tax" on AI data center land, cutting through broker noise to connect real buyers and sellers, and delivering his elevator pitch for turning lost energy into revenue. Learn more about Blue Hawk Energy Solutions: BluehawkBTC.com Connect with Jon Taylor on LinkedIn. Email Jon directly: jontaylor@bluehawkbtc.com Follow The Real Deal Landman Show on LinkedIn for video snippets, industry news, and job postings! Key Takeaways: Blue Hawk: Facilitating deals that convert stranded, flared, or undervalued natural gas into digital compute power.Wellhead Bitcoin Architecture: Monetizing off-grid gas using reciprocating generators, transformers, CCAN containers, ASIC miners, and Starlink satellite connectivity.Bitcoin Mining vs. AI Data Centers: Bitcoin mining targets small, off-grid stranded gas (125–300 MCF) that lacks fiber or water. In contrast, AI data centers requires much larger "powered land" packages with grid ties, fiber, water, and midstream pipeline redundancy.Gas Price Stability vs. Waha Volatility: Fixed-price contracts provide long-term certainty for miners, whereas negative Waha pricing creates market uncertainty and hidden operational costs.Navigating the "Wedding Tax" & Broker Noise: Data center hype has inflated land prices overnight. Success relies on bypassing multi-layered brokers to bring verified buyers and sellers into the same room.Timestamps & Chapters: 00:00 Spring Training Baseball, Stadium Vibes & MLB Rule Changes07:41 Milwaukee Life & The '90s Cover Band Era (Modern Art)13:20 Jon Taylor’s Background & Founding Blue Hawk Energy Solutions16:55 Physical Anatomy of a Wellhead Bitcoin Mining Pad20:29 Small-Scale Bitcoin Mining vs. Large-Scale AI Powered Land24:20 Bitcoin Market Cycles, Fixed Gas Pricing & Waha Volatility30:26 Overinflated Land Values & The AI "Wedding Tax"33:13 Cutting Through Broker Noise & Aligning Operator Expectations45:49 The Elevator Pitch & Show Wrap-Up

  2. Sep 2

    Episode 46: From the Ground to the Cloud with Ryan Fitzgerald

    Drew and Jerris happened to both be in Arizona at the same time for the annual conference of the National Association of Lease and Title Analysts. They also had the opportunity to sit down with Ryan Fitzgerald, CEO & Co-Founder of GreenFlare Technology. They explored the operational complexities of Bitcoin mining alongside oil and gas activities, the importance of location, and climate's impact on mining operations. The conversation covers the challenges of setting up and managing data centers, the complexities of handling royalties in the oil and gas industry, the competitive landscape of Bitcoin mining and AI-centric data center projects, and the future of GreenFlare's operations. Connect with Ryan Fitzgerald on LinkedIn and learn more about GreenFlare Technology at https://www.greenflaretech.com/ Takeaways Bitcoin mining alongside oil and gas activities has operational complexities but is worth pursuing.Locations significantly impact Bitcoin mining operations. Portable data center solutions are complex and risky, requiring careful planning and coordination.Royalties in the oil and gas industry are handled through gas purchase agreements, but the emergence of AI-centric data centers presents new challenges and opportunities for compensation.GreenFlare is additionally focused on AI-centric data center projects, leveraging existing powered land sites and fuel contracts.The conversation highlights the complexities of setting up and managing data centers, the competitive nature of the Bitcoin mining and AI-centric data center market, and the future direction of GreenFlare's operations. Chapters 00:00 The NALTA Convention in Chandler, Arizona02:21 Ryan Fitzgerald's Journey and ASU's Business Program04:16 Transition to Land Work and Bitcoin Mining13:40 Operational Complexities of Bitcoin Mining17:01 Impact of Location and Climate on Mining Operations23:35 Challenges of Portable Data Center Solutions25:27 Handling Royalties in the Oil and Gas Industry28:15 Competitive Landscape of Bitcoin Mining and AI-Centric Data Centers35:25 Future of Green Flare's Operations

  3. Aug 13

    Episode 45: Lessons on Persistence and Adaptability with Rhett Reeves

    If you were going to have three movies with you on a deserted island, what would they be? We promise you won’t be able to guess Drew’s top pick, but we’re so glad we have it recorded.  As for more valuable lessons, the Real Deal Landman Show was pleased to host Rhett Reeves, Manager of Corporate Development at Riverbend Energy Group. Rhett shares his journey in the oil and gas industry, highlighting the importance of adaptability, persistence, and building relationships. He discusses industry trends and the impact of AI, and offers practical advice for landmen and industry newcomers, especially during a difficult job search.  Some of Rhett’s tips for ongoing success: Leverage online resources, such as LinkedIn and job boards for job hunting.Build relationships through local chapters and industry events.Stay current with industry trends, including AI and technology.Develop your own tools and online presence to stand out.When it gets tough, stay persistent.  Connect with Rhett Reeves on LinkedIn, and learn more about Riverbend Energy Group at https://www.riverbendenergygroup.com/

  4. Jul 16

    Episode 44: You Down with IPP? (Kyle Reynolds)

    Kyle Reynolds is the Immediate Past President of the American Association of Professional Landman. He is also about to become an inaugural member of the “Real Deal Landman Eats.” The former landman royalty takes a breath after his presidency and speaks with Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson about what he learned from his interactions with the 11,000+ AAPL members across the United States. Among the important issues discussed were the speculated impacts of AI and stagnant day rates. What seems certain is that the profession will undergo changes that will create numerous opportunities to evolve and engage in a broader spectrum of land and energy. It’s also guaranteed that Kyle will continue to be a leader, a friend to the industry, and a fan and adventurer of interesting eats. The next time you see Kyle, introduce yourself, shake his hand, and thank him for a job well done. RDLS continues to grow! Be sure to follow on LinkedIn for landman job postings, industry news, and shameless plugs for the show.

  5. Jun 23

    Episode 43: Stack Your Oil and Gas Data with Kyla Lawson

    Recent episodes of the Real Deal Landman Show have emphasized the innovative technological landscape, including AI, data centers, and fractional investment opportunities in oil and gas assets. (If you enjoy geeky, tech discussions, be sure to check out past episodes.) To get the greatest effectiveness out of your AI initiatives, it’s important to have clean data. The StackDX platform is comprehensive and offers numerous features, but what many customers appreciate is the value it adds to the data they already own.  In the first truly international episode, Jerris joins Kyla Lawson of Stack Technologies in Calgary to talk about farming, career beginnings, building and selling EnergyLink, and now, the proliferation of StackDX in North America. Connect with Kyla and Stack on LinkedIn and learn more about the platform at StackDX.com

  6. Jun 9

    Episode 42: Oil and Gas Investing for Everyone with Tokenized Energy

    So many listeners of the Real Deal Landman Show work in the oil and gas industry, yet how many own assets themselves? The RDLS welcomes back Tim Pawul (previously on Episode 20) and introduces Chip Simmons and Adrian Macias of Tokenized Energy.  Recent episodes have explored many thoughts about artificial intelligence, data centers, and the rapidly approaching future of the landman profession. This conversation builds on those concepts, arguing that technology has now made it possible for anyone to start building a portfolio of oil and gas investments with a smaller initial contribution than you might think. After you watch or listen to the full episode (and subscribe, of course), be sure to check out https://tokenizedenergy.com/ to learn how to further your journey as a real deal landman… or geologist… or engineer… or HR rep… or…  Disclaimer: The information discussed on this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and may not reflect current market conditions. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your individual situation.

  7. May 29

    Episode 41: Catfish, Software, and Data Centers with Jake Anderson

    In case you needed more proof that Drew Hopkins is the main attraction on the Real Deal Landman Show, this episode introduces another fascinating aspect of his life: catfish noodling. Watch the full episode video and see a picture of the biggest monster (literally) that he has caught. We were pleased to have Jake Anderson of PV Case with us. Jake and his team built an incredible product for scouting and identifying sites for renewable energy projects. It has scaled worldwide and has incorporated critical attributes for data center development. And for those who have been following the jaw-dropping numbers about data centers, Jake offers cautionary wisdom to question what we see in the headlines. Contact Jake at jake@pvcase.com and take a look at the PVCase Prospect tool: https://pvcase.com/prospect.  RDLS just hit 1K followers on LinkedIn! Follow us there for video snippets, random theme songs, industry news, and landman job postings. Takeaways Renewable Energy Site SelectionData Center Expansion Data Center DevelopmentEnergy Grid Challenges Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Noodling Stories06:09 Jake Anderson's Background and Company Journey16:36 Site Selection for Renewable Energy24:32 Impact of Renewable Energy Pullback and New Use Cases31:42 Data Center Development

  8. May 12

    Episode 40: What AI is Doing for Owner Relations with Dagen Boyd

    Well more than a month after it’s over, this seems like the perfect time to share our NCAA March Madness predictions. Note that Dagen Boyd, Co-founder of Firm.App, called it perfectly. Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson hear Dagen's story and his experiences with evolving, innovative technology, particularly how AI can revolutionize owner relations and customer service in the oil and gas industry and continue to impact other roles and workflows in operations. If you're fascinated by the capabilities and ongoing impacts of artificial intelligence, this is an episode you'll enjoy. Follow Dagen Boyd on LinkedIn and learn about Firm.App. Chapters 00:00 March Madness06:04 The Development of Firm.App28:27 The Role of AI in Owner Relations42:05 The Evolution of Job Roles with AI53:38 The Future Impact of AI

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5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

The Real Deal Landman Show pulls back the curtain on the fascinating world of land and energy professionals, offering an authentic counterpoint to Hollywood's dramatized version. Join veteran landmen Jerris Johnson and Drew Hopkins as they serve up hilarious real-world stories, expert insights, and candid conversations with industry legends. From oil fields to renewable energy projects, discover the true adventures, challenges, and triumphs of the professionals who secure the energy future. Connect with the Real Deal Landman Show on LinkedIn and check out RealDealLandman.com

Information

  • Creator
    Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Drew Hopkins and Jerris Johnson
  • Show Website
    The Real Deal Landman Show

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