An Ounce of Prevention

R. Reese & Associates
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Benjamin Franklin famously said that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and we completely agree. On An Ounce of Prevention, Rachel Reese explores the legal developments affecting your business, helping you protect your interest and prevent legal trouble. Rachel Reese, the Founder and CEO of R. Reese & Associates, draws on her many years of experience in energy law to bring you up-to-date information. She also interviews experts on their work, offering a wide range of perspectives on the intersection of law and energy.

  1. 20H AGO

    Flipping the Barrel: Building Community in Oil & Gas

    In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, Rachel Reese sits down with Massiel Diez and Jamie Elrod, founders of Flipping the Barrel, for a candid conversation about influence, credibility, and redefining leadership in the energy industry. What began with a simple introduction quickly evolved into one of the most recognized podcasts in oil and gas. Drawing from Massiel’s field experience and Jamie’s strategic industry background, the two built a platform that earned early access to high-profile CEOs and key decision-makers across the energy sector. Their success wasn’t accidental; it was intentional branding, thoughtful positioning, and a commitment to meaningful conversations in a traditionally conservative industry. But the heart of this episode goes beyond podcast growth. Rachel, Massiel, and Jamie dive into a persistent challenge in the energy space: the perception that women’s conferences lack substance or measurable return on investment. Too often, companies hesitate to sponsor or send female leaders to industry events, questioning the value beyond optics. That skepticism became fuel for action. It’s what led to the creation of the Pursuing Greatness Conference, and later Representation Matters, events designed not as performative showcases, but as strategic, results-driven experiences that deliver leadership development, business growth, and real ROI. In this conversation, they challenge outdated assumptions about women in energy, discuss the business case for intentional representation, and explore how branding and credibility shape the future of the industry. Before diving into the full conversation, Rachel delivers a caselaw and regulatory update on EPA’s Final Rule Granting Texas Primacy for Class VI Underground Injection Wells, a major development for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. She breaks down what it means for the EPA to grant Texas primacy, how permitting authority shifts to the Railroad Commission of Texas, and why this transition could significantly impact timelines, regulatory predictability, and overall project economics. With 45Q tax credits and large-scale CCS deployment on the line, this update underscores why Texas’ expanded authority over Class VI wells is a pivotal moment for the energy industry.   If you’re interested in oil and gas leadership, women in energy, industry conferences, branding strategy, and the evolving business case for representation in the energy sector, this episode offers a perspective you won’t hear everywhere else.

    42 min

  2. FEB 10

    Do The Right Thing Even When No One Is Watching

    Integrity and ethical business practices aren’t “nice to have,” they’re a competitive advantage. In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, host Rachel Reese sits down with Ella McDonald, founder of McDonald Land Services, to unpack the Cornerstones of Success: honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior, and what they look like in day-to-day decision-making. Ella shares how growing up on a dairy farm taught her accountability early, how she pushed into land work in 1978 when she was told there were no women in the field, and the leadership standards she set as her company expanded into major U.S. basins serving oil, gas, renewables, and emerging energy sectors. If you’re a founder, executive, manager, or service provider building a reputation-based business, this conversation is a practical reminder: you have to choose ethics every day, and your organization has to live it, not just say it. Time Stamps / Chapters 00:00:01:04 Welcome to An Ounce of Prevention 00:00:25:17 Host intro + guest introduction (Ella McDonald) 00:01:31:06 The “cornerstones of success”: integrity, honesty, ethics 00:03:28:04 Starting in land work in 1978—“when pigs could fly” 00:05:15:21 Learning accuracy, then pushing into the field 00:06:18:01 Advocating for equal pay: from $35/day to $75/day 00:06:49:12 Why she started her own brokerage firm 00:08:48:06 The unethical kickback request—and walking away 00:12:32:23 How standards scale across a team and operations 00:14:11:21 Fair invoicing + defending work to clients 00:15:21:19 Growth across basins: Marcellus/Appalachia, Rockies, nationwide 00:18:24:18 Building a family legacy + team leaders carrying it forward 00:21:42:01 Lifetime achievement award + message to women leaders

    31 min

  3. JAN 27

    Reviving Distressed Wells

    An Ounce of Prevention explores where energy, law, and real-world operations collide. Each episode pairs timely legal insight with practical conversations from operators who know the field, focusing on the decisions that actually move the industry forward. In this episode, the spotlight is on distressed oil and gas wells, assets that are often overlooked, underfunded, or written off as companies move on to flashier plays. You’ll hear how experienced operators see opportunity in these forgotten wells, using disciplined operations, automation, and wellbore-only strategies to bring production back online. It’s a grounded look at how value is created not through hype, but by knowing what to fix, when to act, and when a simple switch can make all the difference. Caselaw Update:The update covers Miko, LLC v. Targa Gas Marketing, LLC, a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit The dispute arose out of Winter Storm Uri (February 2021) and focuses on how far a natural gas seller can go in relying on a force majeure clause under a NAESB (North American Energy Standards Board) gas contract. Time Stamps: 00:57 – Caselaw Update: Winter Storm Uri and force majeure 04:53 – “Stick to the contract” takeaway and risk mindset 05:19 – Introducing John Benevides and New Height Energy 05:59 – What “distressed” oil and gas wells really mean 06:37 – Why vertical wells get ignored as operators chase horizontals 07:28 – Wellbore-only deals explained 08:43 – Shared infrastructure and legacy asset challenges 10:19 – Turning shut-in wells back on with minimal intervention 11:15 – Automation and personnel efficiency in distressed assets 14:28 – Why aggressive bids on distressed wells often fail 15:45 – Performance bonds, plugging liability, and hidden risks 19:19 – Case study: ~2 BOPD turned into 100+ BOPD 21:06 – Growth strategy built around distressed wells

    23 min

  4. JAN 13

    Delaware, Texas, or Wyoming? The Jurisdiction Mistake Businesses Keep Making

    Where should you register your business, and why does it matter so much?In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, we break down how business jurisdiction affects taxes, liability, compliance costs, and long-term growth. Partner and Corporate Team Lead Tawnya Bell walks through the most common entity-formation choices founders make: Delaware, Texas, Wyoming, and when Series LLCs should be your first choice (and when it creates unnecessary risk). If you’re starting, restructuring, or planning an eventual exit, this conversation can save you time, money, and legal headaches. This episode is designed for business owners, founders, and executives who want to make strategic, not trendy, decisions about corporate structure. Time Stamps / Chapters: 00:31 – Introduction to corporate structure & jurisdiction 00:55 – Case law update: Non-compete enforceability 01:00 – Wiggins v. Southern Securities Group overview 02:55 – Mississippi Supreme Court ruling explained 04:05 – Why non-competes are often misunderstood 04:22 – Why jurisdiction matters when forming a business 05:02 – Delaware: benefits and limitations 06:18 – Texas business courts and why they matter 07:16 – Wyoming LLCs and the anonymity myth 08:17 – Series LLCs and long-term structural risks 09:39 – Practical guidance for choosing the right state 10:16 – Avoiding trend-based business decisions 11:12 – Disclaimers and closing remarks

    12 min

  5. 12/30/2025

    Texas Business Court Rulings That Changed 2025

    As 2025 comes to a close, guest host Miranda Caballero explores some of the earliest and most influential decisions coming out of the newly established Texas Business Courts. Created to handle complex business disputes with greater efficiency, these courts are already shaping litigation strategy, corporate governance, and deal structuring across Texas. In this episode, Miranda breaks down three key cases addressing claim consolidation, veil piercing under Texas law, fraud claims, and statutes of limitations—offering practical insights for business owners, executives, and legal professionals navigating high-stakes commercial disputes. Time Stamps: 00:55 The Texas Business Courts, Creation under House Bill 19 01:27 Kassam v. Dosani caselaw update 02:48 Invincible Inc. v. RB SP One LLC caselaw update 06:32 Riverside Strategic Capital Fund I, LP v. CLG Investments LLC caselaw update

    9 min

  6. 12/16/2025

    The Outsourcing Solution Trend

    In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, host Rachel Reese opens with a critical case law update from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals examining Oklahoma’s Production Revenue Standards Act (PRSA) and the staggering financial consequences of delayed royalty payments. The discussion underscores how statutory compound interest and class action exposure can create nine-figure liability for oil and gas operators—even when payments are eventually made. Rachel is then joined by Eric Fuller, President and CEO of Eikon-X, for an in-depth conversation on modern outsourcing, organizational agility, and career development. Eric shares insights on when outsourcing makes sense, how companies can move faster by buying outcomes instead of methodologies, and why boutique consulting firms are increasingly attractive alternatives to traditional models. The episode also explores career advice for professionals early in their journey, the importance of relationships, and how private equity–backed companies can unlock value through smarter back-office strategy. Time Stamps: 00:25 Case law update 05:00 Eric Fuller introduction 5:50 What Eikon-X is and what it does, serving the industry 7:11 The evolution from in-house back offices to outsourced expertise 09:38 Why companies want solutions, not methodologies 13:01 Specialists vs. generalists and corporate leadership pipelines 15:28 Career advice: increasing value early and staying open to opportunity 16:13 Long-term value of professional relationships 18:09 Fail often, fail fast: breaking things to find better solutions 21:29 Ideal Iconix clients: private equity, M&A, and growing companies 24:24 Final thoughts: supporting teams, saving money, and planning for uncertainty 24:48 Disclaimers, listener call-to-action, and contact information

    26 min

  7. 12/02/2025

    Energy Career Transition: Lessons from Mark Castiglione

    In this episode, host Rachel Reece sits down with Mark Castiglione, Partner of Oil & Gas Strategy at Veriten, to unpack three decades of career pivots, leadership lessons, and strategic insight across the energy industry. From early engineering roots in Burlington Resources, to Enron, investment banking, private equity, corporate development, board seats, restructuring, and international strategy—Mark shares the real story behind navigating an ever-changing industry with resilience and purpose. He also offers practical tips for energy career transitions that professionals at any stage of their journey need to hear. The episode also includes an important Texas corporate law update on Senate Bill 1057, breaking down what nationally listed corporations need to know before opting in. Whether you’re early in your energy career, considering a transition, leading a team, or looking for truth in the evolving global energy landscape, this episode is full of wisdom, candor, and practical guidance. Time Stamps: 00:41 Caselaw Update 03:35 Guest introduction: Mark Castiglione, overview of experience. Texas Tech, Burlington Resources, engineering roots 10:00 Encana, El Paso Corp., Quantum Resources, SR Energy, timing around the 2014 crash 14:56 Advisory career, Sandridge, Meridian Energy, Riverstone, Alta Mesa restructuring 23:00 Board work, Post Oak, joining EOG, international deals, Middle East exposure 34:55 International expansion, advice for career transitions, importance of relationships 37:40 Final thoughts, encouragement for young professionals, closing legal disclaimer

    39 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    Tool Or Takeover? The AI Question Everyone’s Asking

    In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, host Rachel Reece sits down with the one and only Chuck Yates—investor, podcaster, and self-proclaimed “Galactic Viceroy of Collide”—to explore how AI is transforming the energy industry. Chuck shares the unexpected origin story of Collide, how a media venture evolved into enterprise AI software, and what Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) really means for oil & gas companies looking to modernize workflows. From automating regulatory filings to empowering engineers, capturing tribal knowledge, and rethinking how future experts are trained, this discussion dives deep into the real-world impacts of AI—what it can do today, where it falls short, and how early adopters can win big. Whether you’re an energy executive, engineer, attorney, or curious tech leader, this episode is packed with insight, humor, and practical takeaways for navigating AI’s rapid evolution. Time Stamps: 00:48 - Caselaw update 04:58 - Introduction, Chuck explains how podcasting, energy tech experiments, and COVID timing led to Digital Wildcatters and eventually to Collide’s early AI tools. 12:11 – RAG, Costs, & Preventing Hallucinations Chuck breaks down Retrieval-Augmented Generation, why it matters for accuracy, and how Collide reduces token costs and shows source citations. 15:05 – Real-World Automation: Filings, Contracts & Workflow AI A look at how companies use Collide for tasks like W-10/G-10 automation, contract matching, exception letters, and building workflow pipelines. 20:10 – The Future: Pattern Recognition & Hidden Insights Chuck shares how AI will uncover correlations humans never look for, from frac performance issues to vendor-related patterns. 25:03 – Tribal Knowledge, Generational Gaps & Training the Next Experts A deeper discussion on the loss of human apprenticeship, capturing undocumented knowledge, and preventing new skill gaps in the workforce. 31:25 – Legal Thought Partnership & Closing Reflections Rachel explains how AI helps lawyers think better (not replace them), and the two wrap up with a look toward the future. 33:31 – Outro & Disclaimers Closing credits, firm information, and disclaimer.

    36 min
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About

Benjamin Franklin famously said that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and we completely agree. On An Ounce of Prevention, Rachel Reese explores the legal developments affecting your business, helping you protect your interest and prevent legal trouble. Rachel Reese, the Founder and CEO of R. Reese & Associates, draws on her many years of experience in energy law to bring you up-to-date information. She also interviews experts on their work, offering a wide range of perspectives on the intersection of law and energy.

Information

  • Creator
    R. Reese & Associates
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Podcast Monkey
  • Show Website
    An Ounce of Prevention

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