Best Izz Show Podcasts (2026)

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Episode 164: Echolyn Interview (All Four Members!) - TimeSilentRadio II and vii 1:20:45

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1M ago1:20:45

1:20:45

My guests for this special episode are all four members of veteran progressive rock band Echolyn — Raymond Weston, Christopher Buzby, Brett Kull, and Jordan Perlson. The four musicians joined me to discuss their self-released twin albums, TimeSilentRadio II and TimeSilentRadio vii, which came out March 7. The band just released a new video and thes…

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Episode 163: Nick D'Virgilio on Rewiring Genesis Tribute to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 40:29

1M ago40:29

40:29

Nick D'Virgilio returns to discuss the reissue of his 2008 Rewiring Genesis A Tribute to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway album. The reissue drops Friday, with some new parts recorded, including guitar by Genesis legend Steve Hackett and strings recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London. Nick discussed what's been added, what makes The Lamb…

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Episode 162: Ted Leonard Talks New Spock's Beard Album 'The Archaeoptimist' 1:05:06

2M ago1:05:06

1:05:06

My guest for this episode is vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ted Leonard, who is the front man for Spock's Beard, Pattern-Seeking Animals, and Enchant. Ted and his Spock's Beard mates are set to release the band's 14th studio album (the fourth since Ted came in to replace Nick D'Virgilio as vocalist after the latter left the band). The Archaeopt…

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Episode 161: Jonas Lindberg & The Other Side - Time Frames 49:21

2M ago49:21

49:21

My guest for this episode is Swedish multi-instrumentalist and composer Jonas Lindberg. His band/solo project, Jonas Lindberg & The Other Side is set to release its third album, Time Frames, on Nov. 7. Jonas was kind enough to tell me about the new album, his approach to songwriting, why the band hasn't played live in more than 10 years, his musica…

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Episode 160: Thomas Andersen of Gazpacho - "Magic 8-Ball" 1:07:51

2M ago1:07:51

1:07:51

My guest for this episode is founding member and keyboardist of Norwegian progressive rockers Gazpacho. This is one of the most interesting bands in modern progressive rock, and they're back with a new album on Oct. 31 called Magic 8-Ball, a conceptual piece that provides everything you already love about Gazpacho and yet delivers some fresh new so…

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Episode 159: Mariusz Duda Talks New Lunatic Soul Album 46:41

3M ago46:41

46:41

My guest for this episode is Polish composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Mariusz Duda (Riverside, Lunatic Soul) about the upcoming Lunatic Soul album, The World Under Unsun. It's the first double album for Lunatic Soul (the name under which Duda records his solo albums). Despite being a double concept album, he keeps the length manageable,…

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Smarter Test Plans for Inevitable Failures w/ Blue Clover CEO & Co-founder, Pete Staples 1:20:30

3M ago1:20:30

1:20:30

Chris and Melissa welcome Pete Staples, CEO & co-founder of Blue Clover Devices, for a deep dive into how to plan tests, capture evidence, and debug those mysterious boards that look perfect but don’t work. Topics include: Who is Blue Clover Devices & what’s the PLT? Bed-of-nails, ICT, flying probe, and PLT What assemblers really need when a board …

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Episode 158: Lawrence Gowan of Styx on "Circling From Above" 37:21

3M ago37:21

37:21

My guest for this episode is vocalist/keyboardist Lawrence Gowan of Styx. The Canadian musician took over for Dennis DeYoung ahead of the 2003 album Cyclorama and although he's only been part of the band's last five studio albums in that time, Styx continues to find ways to explore interesting musical ideas and create memorable music. Lawrence was …

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Episode 157: Celebrating 40 Years of "Dream Into Action" by Howard Jones 1:20:02

4M ago1:20:02

1:20:02

Jon Lamoreaux from the Hustle Podcast has been on the show before, and he returns to go track by track with me through the 1985 synth-pop masterpiece Dream Into Action by Howard Jones. The album turned 40 earlier this year and Howard is currently on his 40th anniversary tour for the album, playing most of the songs from it, along with other hits an…

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Episode 156: Tom Galgano of IZZ Discusses Debut Solo Album 57:31

4M ago57:31

57:31

My guest for this episode is IZZ co-founding member Tom Galgano, who has finally put out his first solo album after more than 25 years as a professional musician. Sleepwalking in a Strange Land will present many surprises for longtime IZZ fans, but at the same time, there is a lot that the band's longtime supporters will love. Tom was kind enough t…

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Episode 155: Arjen Anthony Lucassen on Solo Album "Songs No One Will Hear" 43:52

4M ago43:52

43:52

Arjen Anthony Lucassen, best known for his Ayreon all-star progressive rock project, is back with his first solo album in 13 years. Songs No One Will Hear is a conceptual piece about the world finding out that an asteroid is coming to destroy the planet in five months' time. The music is eclectic — at times fun, at others serious, with an excellent…

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Inevitable Failures 50:31

4M ago50:31

50:31

After a long break (and a few listener wellness checks!), Chris and Melissa return to catch up on what’s kept them busy and share some updates from around the industry. Then, they dive into this episode’s big topic: who’s responsible for the inevitable fallout when it comes to quick-turn PCB assembly? Topics include: Catching up after six months of…

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Episode 154: Author Andrew Wild Discusses 80s British Prog Rock Scene 53:18

6M ago53:18

53:18

It was my honor recently to speak with music writer Andrew Wild, who has written books about the likes of Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits, and Pink Floyd, as well as about the iconic Live Aid concert festival. Andrew just released his second book about the 1980s "neoprog" era in England, chronicling six British bands that kept the progressive ro…

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Episode 153: Mark Zonder of A-Z Discusses "A2Z2" 1:22:18

7M ago1:22:18

1:22:18

My guest for this episode is Warlord and former Fates Warning drummer Mark Zonder, who was kind enough to talk to me about A-Z's sophomore album, A2Z2, which dropped June 6 on Metal Blade Records. A-Z provides catchy and accessible hard rock music that's a bit more adventurous than your typical AOR fare. The band is made up of accomplished musician…

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Episode 152: Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings Discusses "LOVE" 1:05:51

8M ago1:05:51

1:05:51

I welcome back the legendary Roine Stolt from The Flower Kings to discuss LOVE, the new album from the Swedish progressive rock masters. This 17th studio release is sure to appeal to longtime fans of the band, as The Flower Kings have produced an album that builds on their recent releases while calling back to their classic sound. Roine was kind en…

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Episode 151: Imminent Sonic Destruction Interview - "Floodgate" 1:11:36

9M ago1:11:36

1:11:36

My guests for this episode are Tony Piccoli and Pete Hopersberger from Michigan-based progressive metal outfit Imminent Sonic Destruction. Tony has been on the show before, back on Episode 58 to discuss the band's third album, The Sun Will Always Set, but the band is back with fourth album, Floodgate, which dropped April 25 on FC Records. Tony and …

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Episode 150: Phil Keaggy of Cosmic Cathedral Discusses "Deep Water" 1:02:44

9M ago1:02:44

1:02:44

My guest for this episode is legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy. Phil has joined forces with Neal Morse, ex-Genesis drummer Chester Thompson, and noted session bassist Byron House to form a new prog rock supergroup called Cosmic Cathedral. The band's debut album, Deep Water, drops April 25 from Inside Out Music. Phil was kind enough to tell me how the…

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Episode 149: Steve Babb of Glass Hammer - Rogue 1:00:35

9M ago1:00:35

1:00:35

After the heavy, guitar-driven science fiction epic Arise (2023), Glass Hammer returns with the band's most accessible album yet. Co-founder Steve Babb returns to Michael's Record Collection to discuss the brand new album Rogue, the most human of all Glass Hammer's concept albums. Drenched in keyboards, Rogue shares connective tissue with some of G…

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Episode 148: Dave Kerzner on New Genesis Lamb Tribute 1:21:56

9M ago1:21:56

1:21:56

My guest for this episode is repeat offender Dave Kerzner, making his third appearance on the show. In his first, we discussed one of his all-time favorite albums, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis. That was a few years ago and he hinted about a Lamb tribute album in the works featuring performers such as Francis Dunnery (It Bites), Nick D'…

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Episode 147: Grackle Interview - All That Matters 1:21:35

10M ago1:21:35

1:21:35

For this episode, I'm joined by three members of Grackle, a Louisville, Kentucky-based indie/progressive rock band that defies simple classification, with elements of prog, alt-rock, jazz, classical, folk, classic rock, and more. Primary songwriter Steve Katsikas (vocals, keyboards, saxophone, etc.) along with backing vocalist Jennifer Lauletta and…

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Episode 146: Peter Nicholls and Mike Holmes of IQ on "Dominion" 52:36

10M ago52:36

52:36

My guests for this episode are the principal writers for the British progressive rock band IQ, Peter Nicholls (lyrics) and Mike Holmes (music). The lead singer and guitarist, respectively, along with their bandmates are set to release the band's 13th album, Dominion, on Giant Electric Pea Records on March 28. The two discussed the album's music, ly…

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Episode 145: Kevin J. Anderson Part 2 - Rush, Neil Peart, and Clockwork Angels 50:40

10M ago50:40

50:40

It's Part 2 of my interview with bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson! In this episode, Kevin discusses how he found out he was going to write the novelization for Rush's Clockwork Angels album, working with Neil Peart on the books, his friendship with Neil, his love of Rush's music, and his thoughts on the Clockwork Angels album. Visit wordfire.co…

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Episode 144: Kevin J. Anderson Part 1 - Terra Incognita and Roswell Six Kickstarter 58:32

10M ago58:32

58:32

My guest for this episode is New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson, who is firing up a new Kickstarter (see URL below) today to reissue his outstanding Terra Incognita trilogy in special hardcover and bespoke editions. What does this have to do with my record collection? All three of Kevin's novels in the trilogy have a companion albu…

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Meet up with Chris in California! 2:13

11M ago2:13

2:13

Chris will be in California and would love to meet up with anyone interested. He will be in the San Francisco Bay Area March 11 - March 14 and the Los Angeles/Anaheim area March 16 - March 20. Email us at [email protected] and we'll try to make something happen! pickplacepodcast.comBy CircuitHub and Worthington

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Episode 143: Jonas Reingold Discusses New Karmakanic Album "Transmutation" 59:14

11M ago59:14

59:14

Current Steve Hackett bassist and ex-Flower King Jonas Reingold is back with the sixth Karmakanic album, Transmutation. The new album sees Karmakanic as less of a band and more of a collective of musicians, featuring a new lead vocalist in John Mitchell (Lonely Robot, Arena, It Bites, Kino, Frost*). Jonas was kind enough to tell me about the making…

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IPC's Leadership on Sustainability in Electronics w/ Dr. John W. Mitchell and Dr. Kelly Scanlon 1:10:02

11M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

In this insightful episode, we delve deep into the pressing issues of sustainability within the electronics manufacturing industry with IPC President and CEO, Dr. John W. Mitchell, and Dr. Kelly Scanlon, IPC's lead sustainability strategist. They offer expert insights into how IPC is leading the charge toward more sustainable practices, the importa…

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Episode 142: Riverside's Michal Lapaj Discusses Live ID 50:42

11M ago50:42

50:42

My guest for this episode is Riverside keyboardist Michal Lapaj! The excellent Polish heavy prog rockers toured extensively for the outstanding 2023 album ID.Entity, and that has resulted in the recent release of a new live album, Live ID. Michal talks about the tour, a bit about the making of the live album and ID. Entity, the loss of guitarist Pi…

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Episode 141: John Boegehold of Pattern-Seeking Animals on "Friend of All Creatures" 1:07:10

11M ago1:07:10

1:07:10

My guest for this episode is composer and multi-instrumentalist John Boegehold of Pattern-Seeking Animals! The band is releasing its fifth studio album on Feb. 14 titled Friend of All Creatures. The album features all the prog rock goodness you've come to expect in a melodic and accessible package. In addition to the making of the record, John talk…

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Innovations in Motorsport Sensor Technology with Caleb Holloway of Izze Racing 1:02:14

12M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

In this episode, join us as we continue our exploration into the high-speed world of motorsport sensor technology with Caleb Holloway, founder of Izze Racing. Caleb delves into the complexities of antenna design, the challenges of RF engineering in the demanding environment of racing, and the innovative solutions his team has developed to enhance d…

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The Challenges of Motorsport Sensor Design with Izze Racing Founder, Caleb Holloway 43:28

12M ago43:28

43:28

After a bit of a break we are back with a new, exciting episode! This week we are joined by Caleb Holloway, founder and owner of Izze Racing. Izze Racing provides electronics sensors, with an emphasis on tire data collection, to the motorsport industry. In the first part of this conversation, we delve into Caleb's transition from academia to runnin…

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Episode 140: Maiah Wynne Returns with Debut Solo Album 1:13:07

1y ago1:13:07

1:13:07

Way back in Episode 67, I had the pleasure of speaking with Maiah Wynne about her involvement with Envy of None, a project featuring Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, on which she sang lead vocals. Maiah is back with her debut solo album, and the talented singer-songwriter has made an exquisite first solo impression with Out of the Dark, a heartbreaking…

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Mastering Vias: Plugging, Filling, and Best Practices 34:46

1y ago34:46

34:46

In this episode, we continue our conversation from last episode with Dave Wilcox, PCB CAM engineer at CircuitHub, to explore the intricacies of plugging and filling vias. Topics Covered: The differences between plugging and filling vias, and when to use each method. The common challenges faced during the reflow process, including the infamous "popc…

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Episode 139: Neal Morse Returns to Discuss "No Hill for a Climber" 44:21

1y ago44:21

44:21

Progressive rock master Neal Morse is a prolific and qualitative force in modern prog and he's back on the show to talk about a brand new band project called Neal Morse & the Resonance. The band will drop its debut album, No Hill for a Climber, Nov. 8 on Inside Out Music. Neal discusses the other band members, making the album and writing the songs…

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Episode 138: Galahad Guitarist Lee Abraham Discusses New Solo Album 1:09:38

1y ago1:09:38

1:09:38

Galahad guitarist Lee Abraham returns to the show to discuss Origin of the Storm, a brand new solo album (his 10th), which drops Oct. 21 on F2 Music. Lee was kind enough to discuss the making of the new album with me, along with the stories behind the songs. The new record should appeal to fans of melodic progressive rock with Steve Rothery-esque g…

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Vias, Tenting, and Tiny Fireworks 24:17

1y ago24:17

24:17

In this episode, Chris and Melissa we are focused on the topic of tenting vias. Joined by our favorite PCB guru, Dave Wilcox, we dive into the thrilling question: is it "via" or "v-eye-a"? We discuss the technical details behind different types of vias, tenting methods, and the potential manufacturing challenges that arise from improper designs suc…

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Episode 137: Jem Godfrey of Frost* Discusses "Life in the Wires" 55:21

1+ y ago55:21

55:21

Progressive rockers Frost* return with the band's first official concept album, Life in the Wires, which is set to drop Oct. 18 on Inside Out Music. Founder, keyboardist, vocalist, producer, and primary songwriter Jem Godfrey was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to discuss the new album with me, as well as such topics as his musica…

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Navigating the Environmental Impact of Electronics w/ Component Sense Founder, Kenny McGee 54:51

1+ y ago54:51

54:51

In this episode, Chris and Melissa continue their conversation with Kenny McGee, founder of Component Sense. We explore the environmental impact of electronics manufacturing and discuss how companies like Component Sense work to redistribute unused parts, reducing waste in the industry. Kenny shares insights on sustainability challenges for small b…

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How Component Sense helps components fulfill their destiny w/ Kenny McGee 45:04

1+ y ago45:04

45:04

In this episode Chris and Melissa sit down with Kenny McGee, founder of Component Sense, to dive into the intricacies of the electronics supply chain. Kenny shares his journey from working in electronics manufacturing to founding Component Sense, a company focused on capital recovery from excess inventory while promoting sustainability. Tune in to …

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The RGB LED Dilemma in Manufacturing 24:32

1+ y ago24:32

24:32

In this episode of the PickPlace Podcast, Chris and Melissa discuss the challenges and intricacies of working with RGB LEDs, specifically the popular surface-mount DotStar LEDs from Adafruit. They dive into issues like handling cut strips versus continuous reels, the importance of sourcing directly from original manufacturers, and the need for mois…

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Episode 136: Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess Discusses "Permission to Fly" 47:28

1+ y ago47:28

47:28

Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment keyboard wizard Jordan Rudess joins me to discuss his upcoming solo album, Permission to Fly. Unlike many keyboard player solo albums, which focus on the keys and often use multiple singers and musicians, this one was put together like a band album, using a consistent lineup across the record. It's a cohe…

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Episode 135: Jon Courtney of Pure Reason Revolution 42:00

1+ y ago42:00

42:00

Jon Courtney is the founder, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who drives modern prog rock outfit Pure Reason Revolution. The band is set to release its sixth album on Sept. 6, Coming Up to Consciousness. The themes on the record are lyrically personal ones to Jon, who was kind enough to discuss the album, getting the legendary Guy Pratt to play …

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RF Shields and Restroom Rants 35:29

1+ y ago35:29

35:29

In this episode we delve into the topic of RF (Radio Frequency) shields. . Chris explains the different types of RF shields—open top, closed top, and clip-based—detailing their applications, advantages, and challenges. We also explore the processes involved in placing these shields on circuit boards, emphasizing the importance of inspection and the…

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Stencils: The Unsung Heroes of PCB Perfection Pt. 2 38:10

1+ y ago38:10

38:10

In this episode Chris and Melissa continue their deep dive into the critical role of stencils in electronics assembly, with expert insights from Brett Babilonia. We discuss advanced techniques for stencil design, including custom reductions, step stencils, and nano coatings to ensure optimal solder paste application. The episode also highlights the…

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Stencils: The Unsung Heroes of PCB Perfection Pt.1 33:19

1+ y ago33:19

33:19

In this episode, we dive into the crucial role of stencils in electronics manufacturing. Joined by Brett Babilonia, we explore the complexities of stencil design, including handling missing data, determining foil thickness, and ensuring optimal solder paste application. We discuss common issues, such as SMT standoffs and hybrid components. Stay tun…

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Episode 134: IZZ Members Discuss New Album 'Collapse the Wave' 57:13

1+ y ago57:13

57:13

Four members of the New York-based progressive rock band IZZ are my guests on this episode as we discuss their first new album in five years, Collapse the Wave. The new record is a fresh and energetic take on their signature sound that should please their longtime fans and impress newcomers. It was a blast learning about the making of the album. Be…

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IPC APEX EXPO Meetup Recap 33:31

1+ y ago33:31

33:31

In this slightly random catchup episode Chris and Melissa discuss Chris' recent trip to California where he attended IPC APEX EXPO and hosted out first Pick, Place, Podcast meetup! Huge thanks to everyone who was able to come say hi, the wonderful conversations and show suggestions! pickplacepodcast.com…

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Episode 133: Andy Tillison of The Tangent Returns 1:07:34

1+ y ago1:07:34

1:07:34

Andy Tillison from The Tangent returns to talk to me about the new album To Follow Polaris, which is a unique record in the band's catalog. The primary reason for this is because it's all Andy this time. With his bandmates' busy schedules, Andy decided to have a go at a Tangent album himself, playing all the parts and trying to get into the headspa…

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Episode 132: Saga Guitarist Ian Crichton Talks New Six By Six Album 37:13

1+ y ago37:13

37:13

My guest, Ian Crichton, has long been an underrated yet exciting guitarist primarily known for his work in the Canadian progressive pop/rock band Saga. Ian's still a member of that band, but he's also in an exciting trio called Six By Six with vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Robert Berry and Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler. Six By Six dropped its sophomo…

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How IPC President and CEO, Dr. John W. Mitchell is working on solving the workforce problem 1:06:32

2y ago1:06:32

1:06:32

In this episode, we uncover the multifaceted persona of IPC President and CEO, Dr. John Mitchell, from his educational background to his Ironman pursuits. Learn about IPC alongside insights into John's acclaimed book, Fire Your Hiring Habits. John also talks about the history behind the IPC Apex Expo and what you can expect at the even if you parti…

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What factors influence PCB quotes w/ Brett Babilonia 55:40

2y ago55:40

55:40

In this episode we're happy to welcome back Brett Babilonia, who we spoke to way back in episode 3 and 4 on the show. In addition to purchasing, Brett also handles a lot of quoting at Worthington. We often get asked how we quote boards, is there a magical formula, and figured Brett is the perfect person to speak on this topic. pickplacepodcast.com…