Best Chris DeSantis Podcasts (2025)

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Debrief: Jenn Verser

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2h ago

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Longtime friend of the podcast Jenn Verser joins to talk all things coaching, especially focused on disordered eating, perfectionism and finding your why.By Chris DeSantis

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253: Rapid Execution in Industrial Automation: From FEED Study to Recommissioning in Five Months featuring Cassy Gardner and Chris Schleich of E Tech Group 35:48

1h ago35:48

35:48

Manufacturers know that automation is table stakes in 2025, and yet it’s still a bit of an afterthought for some. You'd think something that can make or break a facility would be everyone’s number one priority. And as you'll hear in this episode, overlooking automation can sometimes have disastrous consequences. In this episode, we sit down with Ca…

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Debrief: David Guthrie

5d ago

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David Guthrie is one of the greatest masters swimmers of all time, and he joins to share his journey across three decades.By Chris DeSantis

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All Your Goal Questions Answered

7h ago

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I answer listener questions about goals and tell you how I approach goal setting with individuals.By Chris DeSantis

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252: Adaptive Production, Resilient Manufacturing, and "Lightbulb Moments" in AI featuring Chris Stevens, SVP and GM of US Automation Business, Siemens Digital Industries 46:18

8d ago46:18

46:18

Manufacturers (not just the guys on the shop floor, but the C-suite behind them) are on a race to the finish line when it comes to automation. Most of us by now are pretty familiar with how AI and automation can play a role in manufacturing. But it looks like we’re heading to the next stage… In this episode, we hear from Chris Stevens, the SVP & GM…

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251: What is a Corporate Venture Studio? An Interview with Joel Reed, President of Premier Labs 33:11

9d ago33:11

33:11

We just can’t stay away from Pittsburgh’s robotics scene! So we’re back, this time turning the spotlight on the business and startup angle with Premier Labs. Premier Labs is a corporate venture studio, a relatively new model that changes how technology comes to market. President Joel Reed joins the episode to give real examples and explanations abo…

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How to Become a College Swim Coach

13d ago

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Dave Rollins joins with newcomer Graham Carpenter to talk about how to make a career in college swimming. We share perspectives from our first ways into the business along with what’s changing. Please donate to the podcast at the following link. PermalinkBy Chris DeSantis

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250: How to Uncover Your "Hidden Factory" and Extract More Value from the Plant Floor featuring Tri Tech Automation 51:15

14d ago51:15

51:15

As manufacturers are under pressure to do more with less and somehow fill roles in an increasingly smaller talent pool, unlocking your “hidden factory” could be the solution. To celebrate episode 250, Chris Luecke returns home to St. Louis to meet with some of his early career mentors from Rockwell Automation – now heading up Tri Tech Automation. R…

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Debrief: Mitch Lyons

17d ago

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Mitch Lyons, lawyer and basketball coach, joins to discuss creating a curriculum for coaches to break from from harmful historical norms. You can find his guide here. If you want to donate to the podcast, follow this link. PermalinkBy Chris DeSantis

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BONUS: How is the Manufacturing Industry Doing Halfway through 2025? Recorded at Hexagon LIVE 2025 28:05

1M ago28:05

28:05

What happens when you put five podcasters in a room together at one of the biggest events of the year for innovative industrial tech? A super broad view of what’s happening in the industry and what we’ve got to look forward to. Recorded live from Hexagon’s 2025 event, we welcomed four friends of Manufacturing Happy Hour, returning to the show to ta…

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Nerd Alert: Three Diet Misconceptions

24d ago

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Trever Gray drops by to give free advice on nutrition and more. For access to Trever’s coaching go to https://www.streamlinednutrition.com/. To donate to the podcast click on the following link. PermalinkBy Chris DeSantis

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Solobrief: Proactive Advice for USA Swimming CEO

29d ago

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In the midst of some of the sport luminaries fighting online, I try to offer something proactive into the mix. Posted before I went on vacation, but don’t worry more podcasts to come!By Chris DeSantis

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249: Why Pittsburgh has been Successful Commercializing Robotics with Jennifer Apicella, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network 49:23

1M ago49:23

49:23

Pittsburgh’s success in the robotics space didn’t happen overnight. It’s been over 40 years in the making, with education, business, and new innovations all coming together to make the city one of the big robotics hubs alongside Boston and San Francisco. The Pittsburgh Robotics Network has been a key player in that success, giving individuals, comp…

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Debrief: Susan Sotir

1M ago

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Susan Sotir has a PHD in Sports and Exercise Psychology, has coached swimming (including me) and is currently a USA Triathlon Level III coach. We reminisce about the old days and trade coaching knowledge. Support the podcast at the following link. PermalinkBy Chris DeSantis

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The State of Robotics in 2025: Live from the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, MA 17:49

1M ago17:49

17:49

What will it take to get humanoid robots out of the experimental phase and into our daily lives? A lot of us always dreamed of having our own C-3PO at the ready, but how close are we really? Well, it’s a little more complicated than simply getting them on a production line. If we want robots to make an appearance not just in the manufacturing space…

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Solobrief: Reacting to Team USA at World Champs

1M ago

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The United States Team was #1 on the medal table- so why does it feel like everyone thinks the world is falling? I react to the dominant narratives around Team USA, high performance psychology and what insight Rowdy Gaines, Michael Phelps, and Ryan Lochte have to add to the conversation.By Chris DeSantis

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248: Reindustrialization and Building in the Midwest with Chris Nolte, Co-Founder of Bloom 55:14

1M ago55:14

55:14

The reindustrialization movement is fully underway, and cities like Detroit are leading the charge. But how do we accelerate the timescale it takes to get America back to the ‘golden days’ of manufacturing? The key, as you’ll hear in this episode, isn’t to keep looking back at the past. It’s to use the tools and resources we have today with a healt…

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Debrief: Matt Hurst

2M ago

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Matt Hurst joins to discuss our adoptive father, movies, covid and Ted Lasson. Yes, you read the description correctly. Click here or follow this link to support the podcast: https://chrisdcoach.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=67bb3eedee44bf75a726ca51By Chris DeSantis

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247: Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur: Mark DeSantis on Startups, Robotics, and Commercializing Tech 1:05:19

2M ago1:05:19

1:05:19

What if accepting failure was the key to entrepreneurial success? Mark DeSantis has built and sold multiple companies over the years and like any entrepreneurial journey, it’s been a mixture of ups and downs, failures and successes. But in this episode, we hear that acknowledging the possibility of failure is what gave him the courage to keep on go…

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Debrief: Brian Barnes

2M ago

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Brian Barnes is the head coach of Duke Swimming and Diving. We talk about letting go of being a perfect parent, having a vision and maintaining positivity.By Chris DeSantis

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246: automatica 2025: Exploring Innovation, Robotics, and Startups Across Bavaria, Germany, and Europe 1:24:30

2M ago1:24:30

1:24:30

You’ll want to grab yourself a pilsner for this episode. Manufacturing Happy Hour heads overseas to sample some fine German beer in the city of Munich…and we also headed to automatica 2025 while we were there. Europe’s biggest AI and automation event is a must-visit if you can get over there. But if not, this episode has you covered. Between event …

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Debrief: Stefanie Williams Moreno

2M ago

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Stefanie Williams Moreno is the head coach of Women’s Swimming and Diving at the University of Georgia. Click here to support the podcast with a one time donation.By Chris DeSantis

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245: A Grassroots Approach to Shaping the Future of American Industry with Bret Boyd, CEO of Sustainment 56:14

2M ago56:14

56:14

You might be surprised to learn what the biggest challenge manufacturers say they’re facing right now. The talent gap comes up a lot on this podcast, but early survey findings from the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA), show that “access to capital” is really what holds most mid-market manufacturers back. In this episode, we sit down with the…

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Debrief: Nancy Hogshead

2M ago

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Nancy Hogshead is the founder and CEO of Champion Women, and she joins to discuss sexual abuse reforms in the sporting world and transgender participation in women’s sports.By Chris DeSantis

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244: Automate LIVE 2025: Warehousing Innovations, AI at the Edge, and Interoperability 42:09

2M ago42:09

42:09

“The hardest part of robotics isn't actually doing robotics. It's providing a solution that solves a real customer problem.” Melonee Wise’s quote from this episode is a good summary of what we talk about in this episode – practical, real-world applications of the technology we see hyped. Robotics, AMRs, humanoid robots, automation, AI – all of thes…

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Debrief: McGee Moody

2M ago

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McGee Moody joins to share insight from a career both inside and outside of swimming.By Chris DeSantis

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243: Inside Automate 2025: Robotics, Automation Trends, and Expert Insights from Automate LIVE 41:44

3M ago41:44

41:44

Welcome to Part 1 of our two-part Automate 2025 recap series. In this episode, we dive into current trends in automation and robotics, including cobots, open operating systems, and more. The interviews were recorded as part of A3's Automate LIVE series of interviews and include insights from the following industry leaders: Jerry Perez, FANUC Americ…

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242: Industrial History and the Low-Carbon Economy of the Future with Ted Fertik, VP of Manufacturing & Industrial Policy at BlueGreen Alliance 50:57

3M ago50:57

50:57

When we talk about building a more productive and competitive manufacturing industry, talk of AI, automation, and other new tech usually crops up. But let’s not forget the basics – the way we power, staff, and build sustainable practices. That stuff’s also important. We’re in an era of transformation right now, but it’s definitely not the first tim…

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Debrief: Braden Holloway

3M ago

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NC State Swimming and Diving head coach and Singapore World Championships head coach for Team USA Braden Holloway joins to discuss the big summer meets, how to build a team from the ground up and the process of investing in your family.By Chris DeSantis

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BONUS: Automatica 2025 Preview: Inside Germany’s Premier Automation & Robotics Showcase 15:07

3M ago15:07

15:07

Get ready for a front-row seat to Europe’s biggest automation event! In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, host Chris Luecke and Jake Hall – The Manufacturing Millennial – share their excitement and preview what’s ahead at Automatica 2025, taking place June 24–27 in Munich, Germany. Chris and Jake discuss: What makes German manufacturi…

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241: How NVIDIA and AI Agents Are Transforming Industrial Automation with Alvin Clark 36:06

3M ago36:06

36:06

We’re seeing a huge leap in potential when it comes to what AI can accomplish in industrial settings. Not only can it catch errors, it can provide intelligent insights to prevent them in the first place, reduce waste, save costs, and improve processes. Recorded live from Automate 2025, we sat down with Alvin Clark, Senior AI Engineer at NVIDIA, to …

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Positive Masculinity w/Trever Gray

3M ago

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Trever Gray joins to talk about my blog post on Positive Masculinity, and then about Streamlined Nutrition and his pursuit of golf greatness. streamlinednutrition.comBy Chris DeSantis

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240: How AI Agents are Revolutionizing Safety and Operations in Manufacturing with Dunchadhn Lyons of Spot AI 24:04

3M ago24:04

24:04

Imagine having a tireless teammate watching your back 24/7, never missing a beat when it comes to keeping you safe. That’s exactly what AI agents in manufacturing are capable of today. Spot AI uses cameras and AI agents to spot safety issues, send alerts, and collect data that can improve safety training in the future. Yes, a human could do all tha…

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Coaching and Having a Partner w/Dave Rollins

3M ago

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Dave Rollins joins to swap stories about he we met our wives, and how to navigate partnership with coaching.By Chris DeSantis

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"Enhanced" Part Two

4M ago

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I respond to listener questions and comments, as well as the ongoing developments around Brett Hawke and the Enhanced Games.By Chris DeSantis

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Debrief: Ahmad Zeid (Big Friendly Swim Podcast)

4M ago

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I bring on fellow podcaster Ahmad Zeid to talk about his foray into podcasting and his thoughts on the way that swimming is covered.By Chris DeSantis

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239: How to Build a "Customer Advisory Board" and Create a Frictionless Customer Experience with Mandy Dwight (Dwight & Co.) and Anthony Leo (IPR Robotics) 50:14

3M ago50:14

50:14

Without customer buy-in, even the most innovative robotics automation products can fall flat. But the approach most manufacturers take with new products is to build them first, then get feedback. In this episode, you’ll hear how one company flipped the script and did robotics product development the other way around. Joining this episode is Anthony…

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Rethinking Polling: AI, Accuracy, and Election Predictions 24:23

3M ago24:23

24:23

I interviewed Kyle Lovelace of Eyesover Technologies on how AI is revolutionizing political polling. We discussed declining accuracy in traditional methods and how AI-driven sentiment analysis offers real-time, cost-effective insights. #WaterCoolerPolitics #EyesoverTechnologies #AI #Polling #Politics #ChrisArps #TechInPolitics…

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Healing the Soul of a Nation: Judy Elias Isaacson on Veterans, Faith, and Black-Jewish Relations 53:37

3M ago53:37

53:37

On this episode of Water Cooler Politics, I spoke with Judy Isaacson Elias, founder of the Heroes to Heroes Foundation, about rising anti-Semitism, shifting political loyalties, and healing our veterans. Judy criticized Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer for ignoring anti-Semitism and she highlighted the Democratic Partys drift away from Israel.…

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Debrief: Mark Bernardino

4M ago

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Mark Bernardino recently announced his retirement from coaching, so I took the opportunity to ask him a few questions about what he’s learned over 50 years.By Chris DeSantis

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238: Scaling Smart: Warehouse Automation and Calculated Growth at Startups with Adi Dalvi, VP of Sales at OSARO 39:45

4M ago39:45

39:45

How does a startup scale? It all starts with a great product that solves a real problem. And sometimes that means taking the slow and steady road to startup success. Recorded at Trillium Brewing in Boston, we sit down with Adi Dalvi, the VP of Sales at OSARO, a company that specializes in robot piece-picking and machine learning solutions to automa…

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Brett Hawke Tries to "Enhance" Swimming

4M ago

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Brett Hawke things going all in on performance enhancing drugs is the path forward for sports. My thoughts on his move.By Chris DeSantis

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237: How Higher Education Is Shaping the Future of Manufacturing with MIT's Dr. John Liu 52:47

4M ago52:47

52:47

What role does higher ed play in making sure manufacturing thrives? Universities and other higher ed hubs are playing a leading role in shaping the future of this industry. And MIT is a prime example of this, with specialist courses to help graduates and professionals get the skills they need to bring new innovations to life. We’re joined by the Pr…

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Debrief: Juliet Suess

4M ago

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Chapman University Head Coach Juliet Suess joins me to talk about the history of swimming, inclusion and integrating psychological practices into your daily.By Chris DeSantis

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236: The Power of Decisive Leadership in Modern Manufacturing with Paperless Parts' Co-Founder & CEO Jason T. Ray 59:47

4M ago59:47

59:47

Sometimes indecision costs more than a wrong decision. Making decisions is a leader’s bread and butter, but during times of uncertainty or crisis, they often become more cautious and hesitant. The danger here is getting left behind while more confident, proactive leaders charge ahead. Jason T. Ray, Co-Founder and CEO of Paperless Parts, is a regula…

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Benjamin Watson: NFL Champion, Pro-Life Advocate, and Speaking Truth in a Divided Culture 15:19

4M ago15:19

15:19

In this powerful episode, Chris Arps sits down with Super Bowl champion and former NFL star Benjamin Watson for a wide-ranging conversation on football, faith, and the fight for life. We start with Benjamins journey from being a first-round NFL draft pick to his thoughts on why Shedeur Sanders may have dropped to the fifth round in this years NFL D…

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Life Outside of Coaching w/Dave Rollins

4M ago

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What does a coach do with the oddball schedule and random pockets of time to complete their life?By Chris DeSantis

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235: How to Find Automation Talent Anywhere with Kyle Mahan, VP & GM of Wauseon Machine 30:02

4M ago30:02

30:02

What does it take to find the best talent in the manufacturing industry these days? When it comes to automation, you can use location (or lack of location) to your advantage. In this episode, Kyle Mahan of Ohio-based Wauseon Machine takes us through their approach to securing the best automation talent. We'll also hear some history on the organizat…

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S4 | E12: Behind the Badge: Modern Policing, Public Trust & Crisis Communication ft. Chris Bess 2:12:06

5M ago2:12:06

2:12:06

In episode 12 we sit down with Chris Bess, Public Information Officer for the Miami Beach Police Department. With nearly a decade of experience in law enforcement and public affairs, Chris has become a trusted voice for one of the most dynamic cities in the country. From his early days in the academy to leading communications during high-pressure m…

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234: From Pro Football to Craft Beer with Katie and Brandon Fields of Inside the Five Brewing Co. 28:56

4M ago28:56

28:56

It’s not every day that a former NFL player joins the podcast. And it’s not every day you see one make such a dramatic career pivot from pro football to craft brewing and small business ownership. But that’s exactly what Brandon Fields did. When he was winding down his football career, he found his passion in brewing, starting out with a home brewi…