Show Summary: In this international edition of The LowDowns, Brent welcomes two standout guests from Europe: Angelique Crosnier, Marketing Director at Bernhard Company, and Valentine Godin, CEO and Founder of Maya Global. Together, they explore the powerful partnership between a turf equipment icon and one of the most innovative AI-driven software platforms in golf. Angelique shares exciting updates on Bernhard’s U.S. Open involvement, technician development, and global academy outreach. Valentine reveals the origin story of Maya, how it grew from a COVID-era project to a global agronomic assistant, and what the future holds for digital tools in turf. The conversation blends tech, culture, mentorship, and fun — including stories of misnamed grinder colors, hiking adventures, unicycles, and the secret history of the Bernhard blazers. This episode is proof that the future of turf is global, digital, and deeply personal. Top Takeaways: Bernhard’s Academy Is Expanding – The legendary turf company is growing its presence in the U.S. through academy partnerships and international technician opportunities.Maya Global Is the AI Assistant for Turf Pros – Built during the pandemic, Maya turns site-specific data into actionable insights for turf health, disease prevention, and efficiency.Partnership Rooted in Shared Values – The Bernhard–Maya relationship is built on mutual vision, professional alignment, and a deep commitment to innovation.Efficiency Enables Responsibility – Maya streamlines decision-making, reduces inputs, and helps supers act with both precision and sustainability.Great Tech Still Starts With Great People – Beyond the dashboards and grinders, it's the people behind the products who drive progress in the turf world.Chapter Timestamps and Summaries: Top Takeaways: 00:00 | Introduction Brent kicks off the episode with hooks, a theme song, and a French intro for Angelique and Valentine, setting the tone for an international conversation. 02:55 | Bernhard Update Angelique shares updates on Bernhard’s U.S. Open work at Oakmont, their Academy Center, technician initiative, and the upcoming BIGGA delegation to the U.S. 09:15 | Introduction to Maya Global Valentine joins the discussion to explain how Maya’s partnership with Bernhard began and shares the origin of the company during the pandemic. 18:10 | Data-Driven Turf Health Val dives into Maya’s AI capabilities, combining sensors, weather data, and user input to help supers manage turf more proactively and responsibly. 31:27 | A Lighter Moment with Bernhard Brent shares a funny story about calling Bernhard’s grinders “orange”. 32:22 | What’s Next for Bernhard and Maya? Angelique and Valentine discuss their visions for growth, innovation, and staying close to users while scaling globally. 36:15 | Angelique and Valentine Away from Work Both guests share a glimpse into their lives outside the industry 38:45 | Two Truths and a Lie Each guest tries to stump Brent with fun facts 43:35 | The Fastest Two Minutes in Podcasting A France vs. USA-themed rapid-fire game where Brent asks the questions… and decides who wins. 48:15 | The Story of the Bernhard Blazer Angelique shares the heritage behind the iconic striped blazer worn by Bernhard team members, tracing back to the vision of Stephen Bernhard. 50:35 | Final Reflections and Outro Valentine offers her final thoughts on Maya’s path forward, Brent reflects on the impact of both companies, and previews next episode’s guest: Matt LaWell If you're looking for cutting-edge turf tech and global leadership insights, this episode brings innovation, vision, and personality straight to you.
