#232- Intercollegiate Mining Games: Mia Crawford
Mining Minds
In Episode #232, Mining Minds sits down with Mia Crawford at the University of Arizona’s San Xavier Underground Mining Laboratory to explore the experiences shaping her future in mining. Mia shares how her father’s legacy inspired her to pursue mining engineering, the determination required to balance college with three jobs, and how hockey helped her develop the confidence and grit to succeed in a demanding industry. Mia also takes listeners inside the Intercollegiate Mining Games, her internship experience with Capstone Copper, and her responsibilities as a student safety manager....
info_outline
#231 — 40th Annual Elko Mine Expo Keynote Podcast
Mining Minds
Episode #231 is LIVE — 40th Annual Elko Mine Expo Keynote Podcast Mining Minds sat down with Amanda Hilton, President of the Nevada Mining Association; Don Dwyer, General Manager of Orla Mining’s South Railroad Project; and Vern Goglio, Senior Manager at Cementation USA, for a conversation on the past, present, and future of Nevada Mining. From the evolution of safety and leadership to workforce development, women in mining, contractor partnerships, community trust, and what it will take for Nevada to remain a global mining leader, one message stood out: we can’t just tell...
info_outline
#230- South32 Hermosa: Pat Risner
Mining Minds
From a Coal Mine Summer Job to Leading America's Next Critical Minerals Project Pat Risner had no mining background, no family in the industry, and no plan to end up here. One summer underground changed everything. Now, as President of South32 Hermosa, he's building one of the most important zinc and manganese projects in the country — from the ground up. In this episode, Pat joins Mining Minds to share his journey from Oklahoma to BHP's global operations, the leadership lessons he learned the hard way, why culture came before anything else at Hermosa, and how a smaller...
info_outline
#229- Scott Shields
Mining Minds
What does it mean to truly think like a miner? In this episode of Mining Minds, we head underground to the University of Arizona's renowned San Xavier Underground Mining Laboratory for our first-ever underground podcast recording. Joining us is Scott Shields, General Manager of Sales for Komatsu Southwest, Strategic Advisor to the San Xavier Laboratory, and a fifth-generation Arizona miner whose career has taken him from the copper mines of Morenci to more than 150 mining operations across 24 countries. Scott shares an incredible journey built on hard work, mentorship, humility, and a passion...
info_outline
#228- Allison Anderson
Mining Minds
Great mining projects don't begin with equipment—they begin with trust. In this episode of Mining Minds, we sit down with Allison Anderson, a highly respected external affairs and communications professional, to explore one of the most important—and often least understood—roles in modern mining. Allison shares her unconventional journey from journalism and public relations to becoming a trusted bridge between mining companies, government, and the communities they serve. From advancing AngloGold Ashanti's North Bullfrog and Arthur projects to supporting workforce development,...
info_outline
#227- Dave Spicer
Mining Minds
What if the future of mining isn’t just measured in ounces produced—but in the communities, habitats, and generations it leaves behind? In this episode of Mining Minds, we sit down with Dave Spicer—miner, rancher, entrepreneur, conservation advocate, and lifelong Beatty resident—for a thought-provoking conversations about the future. Dave’s story is deeply intertwined with the history of Beatty, Nevada, from growing up on a ranch and living off the land to building businesses, supporting mining projects, and dedicating decades of his life to ensuring his hometown has a future. What...
info_outline
#226- AngloGold Ashanti: The Next Shift
Mining Minds
The future of mining isn’t coming — it’s already clocked in. In this episode of Mining Minds, The Next Shift, Mining Minds sits down in Beatty, Nevada with a panel of young professionals from who are helping redefine the future of modern mining from the ground up. From geology and environmental planning to HR, communications, and project development, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what mining really looks like today — and what it will become tomorrow. The panel dives into the realities of building a world-class mining project, the responsibility that comes with...
info_outline
#225- Part 2: Hector Denogean
Mining Minds
Arizona Copper Country, Global Mining Projects, Leadership & Legacy Recorded at the historic in Oracle, Arizona, this episode marks Part 2 of ’s incredible mining journey. If you haven’t heard the beginning of Hector’s story, be sure to check out . In this powerful follow-up conversation, Hector shares how his career became more than just a mining story — it evolved into a legacy built underground, across borders, and through generations of miners. From helping support Resolution Copper and mentoring young miners at the San Xavier training mine, to working projects...
info_outline
#224- AngloGold Ashanti: Mary Koerner
Mining Minds
From Service to Safety, Building Trust, and Leading Forward In Episode #224 of the Mining Minds Podcast, we sit down with , Health, Safety & Security Manager at Nevada project, to explore what it truly means to build safety and culture from the ground up—at a stage where every decision carries weight. From growing up in a small Montana town to serving 12 years in the Army Reserves, Mary shares how her experiences have shaped her approach to leadership today. Her path through mining, manufacturing, and other industries has given her a unique perspective—one that blends...
info_outline
#223- Mike Hill
Mining Minds
Betting on Yourself, Breaking Cycles, and Building Something Bigger Recorded from the in Sonoita, Arizona, Mining Minds sits down with longtime friend and the Bald Mountain Bad Boy himself, , for a conversation filled with lasting lessons, career pivots, and the realities of rebuilding yourself both inside and outside the mining industry. Mike didn’t follow a clean path into mining—or out of it. He walked away from home in Colorado knowing he needed a reset, landed in Nevada chasing opportunity, and got thrown straight into the deep end of underground mining with zero experience...
info_outlineIn this episode of Mining Minds, we sit down with Joel Donalson, Vice President of Sustainability at AngloGold Ashanti, from their Las Vegas office overlooking the valley. Joel shares a powerful story that spans generations in mining, from growing up in a mining family to helping lead one of Nevada’s most exciting new projects.
We dive into Joel’s journey—from working in an assay lab as a teenager to navigating roles in environmental management, risk, mine engineering, and even ranch operations. His career is a testament to embracing opportunity, adapting to changes, and building a well-rounded perspective across the mining industry.
One of the most impactful moments in this conversation is Joel’s global perspective on mining:
“There was nothing here… people living subsistence lifestyles… and then a mine comes in — now there are roads, schools, infrastructure, opportunity.”
The North Bullfrog and Arthur projects near Beatty, Nevada, represent more than just potential mining operations—they offer an opportunity to shape an entire region and meaningfully connect one of the state’s largest populations to the mining industry in a new and impactful way.
To follow this transformation as it unfolds and stay connected to the latest updates from AngloGold Ashanti’s Nevada projects, join their e-newsletter using the link below.
AngloGold Ashanti - Nevada Projects
We’d like to extend our appreciation to AngloGold Ashanti North America for welcoming us in and allowing us to highlight their team and the impactful work taking place on this project.
Episode Sponsors:
Safety First Trianing & Consulting
Motor Mission Machine & Radiator
Episode Chapters:
02:43 Joel Mining Roots
10:56 First Assay Lab Job
12:10 Assay Lab Grind
15:39 Back To Mining Boom
23:53 Environmental Closure Work
30:26 Risk Management Mindset
38:36 Short Range Planning Chaos
46:54 Why Environmental Fits
54:37 Mining Changes Communities
01:00:49 Winning Trust on the Ranch
01:05:04 Work Life Balance in Mining
01:10:15 Small Town Mining Stories
01:15:06 Building a New Nevada District