What The Funk?

Digital Wildcatters
  • 4.6 (84)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Welcome to What the Funk? with Jeremy Funk. A series that highlights the unique personalities within the Oil and Gas Industry and the stories they have to share.

  1. 12/22/2025

    Matt Vivian

    Plymouth roots, Detroit suburbs, and a water ski club team romance somehow turn into running a huge Eagle Ford production machine, plus parenting, hockey nights, and still finding time to chase a 14er. Matt Vivian from bpx energy shares how he went from Shell training to startup chaos to leading 1400 plus wells, why bottom up daily habits beat top down chaos, and how LinkedIn went from lurking to actually connecting with people again. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 Mid December catch up 01:17 Michigan roots and school 03:10 Getting into energy 03:30 Caroline, water skiing, family 11:14 Shell start, Houston to Denver 13:22 Questar and Bakken years 16:36 Startup grind at Rimrock 20:24 Sale, reset, and next move 22:16 Joining bpx in Eagle Ford 25:28 How bpx fits with BP 29:05 Role scope and growth 31:00 Daily priorities and reports 35:54 Weekends, trust, time off 40:18 Tech and AI habits 41:36 Life outside work 44:55 LinkedIn shift 50:59 Looking ahead at bpx and BPhttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    55 min

  2. 11/13/2025

    Will Dotson

    RegretShield isn’t your typical OT consulting shop, it’s a crew built on service, straight talk, and actually fixing the messy stuff that slows operators down. Will Dotson walked us through how he went from the military to building a company that’s obsessed with modernizing well pads, tightening up workflows, and giving clients the kind of communication they wish every vendor had. He opened up about the mentors who shaped him, the reality of working in OT (equal parts chaos and reward), and why RegretShield puts such a big emphasis on doing things the right way instead of the loud way. It’s a conversation full of stories, lessons learned, and the mindset that’s helping his team carve out something genuinely different in the OT world. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro00:59 - Who is Will Dotson06:06 - Track & Field Career14:57 - Joining the Navy Experience18:04 - WorldCom Insights22:19 - Career After WorldCom23:31 - Qualities of a Good Project Manager28:30 - Starting Regatta Solutions Journey33:20 - Learning from Mistakes35:44 - Will's Early Projects Overview38:24 - What is RegretShield41:40 - Unique Aspects of RegretShield46:46 - Future Vision for RegretShield48:50 - Where to Find Will Dodson49:50 - Outrohttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    51 min

  3. 10/23/2025

    Jeremy Jenson

    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. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro00:32 - Who is Jeremy Jensen03:04 - Upbringing and Background07:50 - Building a Large Firm10:48 - Overcoming Challenges in 201614:35 - The Human Element in Business17:28 - Shared Experiences and Stories20:10 - Responsibility for Team Members25:40 - Jeremy's Interests Outside of Work26:44 - Encore Search Partners' Awards28:35 - Letting Go of Top Performers30:51 - Impact of AI on Business33:19 - Future of Encore Search Partners35:35 - Discussion on Houston38:48 - Connecting with Jeremy Jensen41:02 - Outrohttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    43 min

  4. 10/16/2025

    Martín Luna Rivera & Martin MacRae

    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. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 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 https://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    50 min

  5. 10/09/2025

    Kevin Watt & Graham Steele

    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. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro01:50 - Who are Graham Steele and Kevin Watt06:55 - Growing Up in Scotland12:45 - KCI’s Vision for the US Market15:14 - Aberdeen's Business Focus: Oil & Gas17:07 - Energy Evolution vs. Transition21:11 - KCI Solutions Overview23:18 - KCI’s Evolution Journey27:38 - Importance of Customer Feedback29:58 - KCI's Involvement Timeline34:30 - KCI's Strategic Growth Plan37:43 - How KCI Acquires Business40:18 - Onboarding New Clients45:50 - The Perfect Scottish Meal47:46 - Exploring Scottish Cuisine50:54 - Where to Find Kevin and Graham53:38 - Endhttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    55 min

  6. 09/18/2025

    Reed Goodman

    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. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro00:55 - Reid Goodman Biography05:31 - Childhood in the Oilfield11:02 - Reid's WiFi Challenges12:02 - Jeremy's Upbringing16:01 - Overview of Jaybird Resources19:28 - Understanding Reid's ADD20:38 - Launching Jaybird Resources23:37 - Family Business Dynamics26:55 - Potential for Public Company29:30 - Relatable Industry Stories31:37 - Closing Remarkshttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    33 min

  7. 09/04/2025

    Justin Pines

    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. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro02:00 - Justin Pines Interview05:20 - Access to Information in Today's World10:38 - Embracing Change and Growth10:59 - Parental Influence on Personal Development17:48 - Emotional Impact of Losing a Parent20:27 - Greg's Childhood and Upbringing27:50 - Navigating the College Experience29:05 - Balancing Multiple Sports in College34:57 - Connection Between College Sports and Sales35:10 - Exploring Career Paths and Choices39:10 - Starting Your Own Business Journey45:20 - Finding Zen in a Busy Life51:10 - Closing Thoughts and Reflections51:55 - Outrohttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    53 min

  8. 08/14/2025

    Tyler Thomason

    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. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro00:58 - Who is Tyler Thomason04:08 - Why Choose LSU for Petroleum Engineering11:05 - Decision to Pursue Petroleum Engineering13:03 - Securing Internships in Energy Sector15:47 - Experience Working in the Field20:22 - First Job in Petroleum Industry23:03 - What Makes EOG Resources Special27:17 - Transitioning from EOG to Entrepreneurship30:00 - Overview of CT Evolution32:18 - Operator vs. Vendor in Energy Sector33:41 - A Day in the Life of Tyler Thomason35:13 - Finding Business Opportunities in Energy37:40 - Importance of CT Evolution for Stakeholders39:59 - How to Connect with Tyler Thomason40:50 - Outrohttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    42 min
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4.6
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Welcome to What the Funk? with Jeremy Funk. A series that highlights the unique personalities within the Oil and Gas Industry and the stories they have to share.

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