Best Bulb Digital Podcasts (2025)

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From Fixed to Mixed: Mindset Shifts That Power Lights-Out Manufacturing, Ep #24 42:38

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4d ago42:38

42:38

In this episode of Lights Out, Nick Goellner, Eric Nekich, and Dave Vuyk take listeners inside the mindset shifts powering the next wave of lights-out manufacturing. Forget just “working harder” — this conversation is about working smarter, breaking out of fixed thinking, and unlocking massive gains without adding headcount or square footage. The t…

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Starting Over? Here’s the Roadmap We’d Follow 38:05

12d ago38:05

38:05

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Ever wish you could just hit reset on how your team works? In episode 48 of the MOS podcast, Mitch, Matt, and Mike imagine hitting reset on your workplace. If…

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Carrying the Legacy Forward: Yuto Matsuura on Family, Precision, and the Future of Automation, Ep #23 52:49

11d ago52:49

52:49

In this episode of Lights Out, we sit down with a special guest who embodies both tradition and innovation: Yuto Matsuura, fourth-generation leader of Matsuura Machinery. His story is one of legacy, expectation, and transformation—from the weight of inheriting a century-old family business to finding his own passion for manufacturing and automation…

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The Automation Trap: Turning Struggle into a Lean Legacy, Ep #22 40:19

25d ago40:19

40:19

After three episodes of grit, missteps, and breakthroughs, the story of Iron Clunk Machining comes to its conclusion—and its rebirth as Iron Wheel Manufacturing. This isn’t just the end of a narrative—it’s proof that the right combination of lean principles, selective automation, and engaged leadership can completely transform a struggling shop int…

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What AI Can’t Fix (And What You Still Have to Do Yourself) 29:56

2M ago29:56

29:56

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Matt and Mike unpack the biggest myths around AI in the workplace, like whether it’s taking your job, replacing your tools, or requiring a degree in prompt en…

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The Automation Trap: Saving a Shop with Systems, Not Spindles, Ep #21 41:11

2M ago41:11

41:11

Welcome back to Lights Out, where we’re continuing our deep dive into Iron Clunk’s lean transformation—and this one is a turning point. After hitting rock bottom, Gary’s found a lifeline in Klaus and the Lean Stream team. But this isn’t a charity case—it’s an investment. With tools like value stream mapping, theory of constraints, and 5S, Gary and …

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The Connected Advantage: Solving Real Problems with Hexagon’s Digital Workforce, Ep #20 42:01

2M ago42:01

42:01

In this special episode of Lights Out, we step away from the Automation Trap series for a special episode recorded at Hexagon Live, where the buzz wasn’t just about race car simulators—but about revolutionizing shop floor productivity. We sit down with Darren Metherell, Head of Sales for Hexagon’s Connected Worker team, to explore how modern manufa…

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M365 is Changing: Here’s What It Means for You 1:01:22

2M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Microsoft 365 is evolving fast, and not always in the ways you’d expect. In this episode, we're sharing unfiltered thoughts on Copilot’s growing presence, lon…

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The Automation Trap: One Shop’s Hard Lesson in Lean Thinking, Ep #19 42:35

3M ago42:35

42:35

In this explosive second installment of our manufacturing audio drama, The Automation Trap, we return to the saga of Gary and his struggling shop, Iron Clunk Machining. Desperate to prove himself and catch up to his more successful rival Klaus, Gary dives headfirst into automation—but without the foundational principles that make automation work. T…

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The Automation Trap: Why Automating Chaos Won’t Save You, Ep #18 47:20

3M ago47:20

47:20

What happens when a desperate shop owner tries to copy someone else’s success—without understanding the system behind it? In this episode of Lights Out, Nick and Kaleb are joined by their friend and workholding expert Eric Nekich to break down the first chapter of a fictional story that might hit a little too close to home. “The Automation Trap” fo…

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When Progress Feels Like Failure 42:40

3M ago42:40

42:40

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Change is uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean it’s failing. In episode 45 of the MOS podcast, we talk about how to spot real progress (even when things feel …

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Dimming the Lights: How to Build a Shop Ready for Automation, Ep #17 44:40

3M ago44:40

44:40

What if going “lights out” wasn’t about giant robots or million-dollar cells—but about one simple mindset shift? In this kickoff to our new Automation Academy series, we break down the truth behind successful automation. Spoiler: it's not just about buying a robot. It's about building a stable process, defining standards, and rethinking what’s poss…

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Wrong Tool? Here’s Why M365 Feels Overwhelming 33:47

5M ago33:47

33:47

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Overwhelmed by Microsoft 365 tools? You’re not alone. In this episode, Mitch and Matt break down the ocean-drop-off metaphor they use to explain tool complexi…

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Is Coaching the Key to Lights-Out Success? Ep #16 53:01

5M ago53:01

53:01

What happens when cutting-edge CAM automation meets boots-on-the-ground manufacturing know-how? You get an eye-opening conversation that will challenge the way you think about the future of your shop—and your role in it. In this episode of Lights Out, we sit down with David Vuyk, a guy who’s walked every inch of the shop floor and now finds himself…

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The Quiet Cut That's Loudly Threatening Small Manufacturing 35:09

5M ago35:09

35:09

Most small manufacturers don’t realize they’re being quietly supported by one of the most impactful public-private partnerships in the country. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has long been the hidden backbone behind training programs, grant facilitation, process improvements, and critical tech upgrades for shops across the U.S. But r…

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The Juice-to-Squeeze Ratio: Why Time Freedom Isn’t Optional for Shop Owners, Ep #15 47:30

6M ago47:30

47:30

What if the real sign of a thriving machine shop isn’t how hard the lights are on—but how confidently you can turn them off? In this episode of Lights Out, we sit back down with Ryan Bankel of Imago Manufacturing to get into the guts of how a high-performing shop can run with minimal human presence and still crank out quality parts. This isn't abou…

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The Hidden Gaps in MSP Support (And How to Fix Them) 39:20

6M ago39:20

39:20

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! In this episode of Make Others Successful, we ask the big question: is having an MSP really enough? We explore the gaps that MSPs often leave, especially arou…

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Automation: The Key to Time Freedom in Machining, Ep #14 41:46

6M ago41:46

41:46

Have you ever felt like the traditional path of working harder to get ahead isn't the answer? In this episode, Ryan Bankel, founder of Imago Precision Machining, shares the story of how he built his business from the ground up. What started in a garage has grown into a company with a strong focus on sustainability and automation. Ryan talks about h…

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The Perfect Tool is a Myth: Focus on This Instead 40:02

6M ago40:02

40:02

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Is there really a perfect tool for work? (Spoiler: No.) In this episode, Mitch, Mike, and Matt break down the obsession with finding a “perfect” tool and why …

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The AI Revolution: Rethinking Automation with Al Whatmough, Ep #13 38:32

7M ago38:32

38:32

In this episode of Lights Out, we’re joined by a true innovator in the manufacturing space, Al Whatmough, CEO of Toolpath. Al brings a wealth of experience from his time at Autodesk and his leadership at Toolpath, where he’s driving the next wave of automation in CNC machining. Together, we dive into the revolutionary role that AI is playing in res…

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Foundations of Productivity: Projects, Processes, & People 38:49

7M ago38:49

38:49

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! In episode 41, we break down the basics of getting work done by exploring projects, processes, and people work. We explain how clear projects create direction…

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Make the Right Chips, Do the Right Work, Ep #12 39:51

8M ago39:51

39:51

Are robots really taking over human jobs, or is it the other way around? In this eye-opening episode of Lights Out, hosts Nick and Kaleb sit down with automation expert Max Falcone to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions in manufacturing: that automation replaces workers. Instead, they argue that too many people are still stuck performing te…

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Teams Update: Handling Chats and Channels Together 23:04

8M ago23:04

23:04

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! 🎉 Bonus Episode! Join Mitch, Matt, and Emma for an impromptu discussion on the major updates coming to Microsoft Teams. We're giving our candid opinions and t…

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The Throughput Mindset: How Automation and Culture Drive Success, Ep #11 48:35

8M ago48:35

48:35

What separates the best shops from the crowd? It’s not just the technology they use—it’s the way they think. The top manufacturing leaders aren’t content with operators who say, ‘I run a mill,’ or ‘She programs machines.’ Instead, they cultivate a culture where everyone is focused on one goal: increasing throughput. By aligning your people, resourc…

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Our 2025 Roadmap: What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Headed 38:15

9M ago38:15

38:15

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! It’s our first podcast of 2025! Emma, Matt, Mike, and Mitch look back on last year’s wins (and a few misses) and share what’s next for helping teams work smar…

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What if 2025 Was Your Year To Do These Things 42:10

9M ago42:10

42:10

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! In episode 39 of Make Others Successful, the team dives into how to make 2025 your best year yet by focusing on three key areas: having smarter meetings, ditc…

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Business Moves at the Speed of Trust with Wade Anderson, Ep #10 39:32

10M ago39:32

39:32

In this episode of Lights Out, Wade Anderson, VP of Engineering and Automation at Okuma delivers a compelling look at how automation is transforming the manufacturing landscape. Along with Steve DeGrasse, the East Coast Regional Sales Director at Hennig, we uncover why tomorrow’s machine tools will require rethinking—like side-door access for robot…

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Chip and Coolant Management for Machining Automation with Blaser Swisslube and Hennig, Ep #9 40:23

10M ago40:23

40:23

In this episode of Lights Out, we explore how cutting-edge coolant technology is transforming manufacturing by enabling efficiency, stability, and sustainability. Tiffany Bryson and Christopher Porsch of Blaser emphasize the need for a repeatable, reliable process, noting that automation hinges on stable coolant systems. Scott Cooley, with Hennig, …

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Are You Even Prepared to Run a Lights Out Shop? Ep #8 41:53

10M ago41:53

41:53

What do you need to know before you launch automation in your shop? What would be signs that you’re not ready to automate? If you’re launching the process, how can you use your ERP/MRP to the fullest? Even the smallest mistakes—like not having a process in place to deal with the chips your machines are creating while running lights out—can be costl…

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Connecting Advanced Machining Strategies to Business Results Part 2 26:10

10M ago26:10

26:10

Here’s our controversial take: We believe that “automated” is more important than “operated”. It’s a stance that scares a lot of operators—but it shouldn’t. In this episode of MakingChips, Mike Payne and Kaleb Mertz return to dive into part loading and pallet loading, a mixed vs fixed mindset, and why predictive is better than reactive. We’ll conne…

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Connecting Advanced Machining Strategies to Business Results Part 1 28:48

10M ago28:48

28:48

Machine monitoring can give us insights into our machines that can and should change how we’re operating. The end goal is to drive better business results. But how should monitoring be paired with advanced business strategies to help you achieve those results? Mike Payne, Kaleb Mertz and I connect the dots in this episode of MakingChips. Because if…

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A Samurai's Journey to Automation, Ep #5 46:25

10M ago46:25

46:25

Can small shops begin to automate their processes? Where do they start with automation? In this episode of MakingChips, the CNC Samurai, Steve Courchane, returns to share his passion for automation. He lays out his 3M process and how it changes the way you view automation. Because if you’re not modeling, making, or measuring—you’re not MakingChips.…

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How to Prioritize Flexibility when You Invest in Automation, Ep #4 36:09

10M ago36:09

36:09

POV: You’ve decided to start the process of implementing automation in your machine shop—but it isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. It’s a process that consists of failing forward and learning from every mistake. Tom Schroeder—the Executive Vice President at PBC Linear—joins us in this episode of Lights Out to share how to prioritize flexibility wh…

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How a Prototyping Shop is Shattering the Status Quo with Automation, Ep #3 45:00

10M ago45:00

45:00

Are you embracing automation in your shop? Or are you hesitating because you’re unsure how to implement it so that you’re making the best use of your time and money? Brian Kippen—the owner and CEO of KAD Models & Prototypes—reframes how you can use automation. In this episode of MakingChips, Brian Kippen, Steve DeGrasse, and I share how you can app…

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Automation 101 with Chris Luecke Manufacturing Happy Hour, Ep #2 48:38

10M ago48:38

48:38

Automation continues to be a popular and divisive topic in the manufacturing world. Automation is important for attracting and retaining young talent and growing your business. So we’ve been working hard to highlight the importance of automation—and where you can dive in—with our Lights Out series. Chris Luecke—the host of Manufacturing Happy Hour—…

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Training Machinists with an Automation Mindset with Titan Gilroy, Ep #1 39:39

10M ago39:39

39:39

Lights out manufacturing isn’t only a large topic of conversation but it’s also the way of the future. Shops around the world are embracing automation. Are you? If you haven’t become part of the automation conversation, don’t miss our first lights-out-focused episode with Special guest Titan Gilroy. He shares how automation has progressed, the mind…

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Project Management Q&A: Real Solutions for Real Struggles 48:34

10M ago48:34

48:34

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! In this special Q&A episode of the Make Others Successful podcast, we're answering your questions and tackling some of the most common challenges project mana…

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If We Could Change One Thing About Microsoft 38:48

12M ago38:48

38:48

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! In episode 37 of Make Others Successful, Mitch, Emma, and Matt tackle the nuances of Microsoft's tool ecosystem, focusing on the distinctions between individu…

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Lights Out Intro 0:57

1y ago0:57

0:57

By Nick Goellner

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Why Communication is Always Your First Step 36:19

1y ago36:19

36:19

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! In episode 36 of the Make Others Successful podcast, Mitch, Mike, Emma, and Matt discuss the importance of establishing strong communication and collaboration…

1
Our Toolkit for Successful Engagements 43:19

1y ago43:19

43:19

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! In this episode of Make Others Successful, we dive deep into the methods and exercises that drive successful client engagements. Mitch, Emma, and Matt explore…

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Navigating Project Management with M365 49:32

1y ago49:32

49:32

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! We'll be the first to say it: M365 isn't perfect. We know the limitations it has and how that can make project management difficult sometimes. It's not a dead…

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Redefining Workplace Communication: The Shift from Person-Based to Topic-Based 38:31

1+ y ago38:31

38:31

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Today we're discussing the pitfalls of person-based communication. If you're relying on email and direct messaging, a.k.a information silos, you probably need…

1
Integrating AI Into Your Workday 46:23

1+ y ago46:23

46:23

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! AI seems to be popping up everywhere, including the workplace. Not only is it overwhelming, but knowing where AI will integrate seamlessly into your work life…

1
Communication That Curates Connection 30:36

1+ y ago30:36

30:36

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! The Bulb Gals are back for episode 31 of the Make Others Successful podcast 😊 Emma, Livvy, and Michaela are discussing the importance of communication in the …

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Helping Others — How We Approach Success 32:03

1+ y ago32:03

32:03

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! In episode 30 of the MOS podcast, Mitch, Matt, and Mike discuss the history and development of Bulb Digital and reflect on their problem-solving journey while…

1
Building a Better Workplace: Our POV 38:20

1+ y ago38:20

38:20

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Between growing our business and helping customers with their workplaces, we've gained useful insights into creating modern work environments, tech integratio…

1
When You Think You're a Modern Workplace 37:05

1+ y ago37:05

37:05

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! We decided to try something new on today's episode: have ChatGPT outline our conversation on episode 28 of the Make Others Successful podcast! We asked ChatGP…

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M365 Updates You Should Know About 42:45

2y ago42:45

42:45

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! We are in the M365 world every single day, and there are new updates everywhere it seems. It's a lot to keep track of! Luckily in episode 27 of the Make Other…

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Meet the Bulb Gals (and Modernize Your Workplace) 37:00

2y ago37:00

37:00

👉 Get Your Free 365 Foundations Preview 🎯 See where your organization stands with our free scorecard 🔗 Join the Workplace for a supportive community for shared insights and collective growth! Get to know the Bulb Gals in episode 26 of the Make Others Successful podcast! Emma, Livvy, and Michaela discuss the benefits of working for a modern workplac…