Libsyn Directory

440 Mental Health in the Workplace with Dr. Andy Melton

Release Date: 10/03/2025

468 Born into Water Treatment: Tom Brandvold on AWT’s Origin Story and a Life in the Industry

Scaling UP! H2O

Tom Brandvold, CWT, has lived industrial water treatment from the inside out. In this conversation, he traces that path from sweeping floors and running sample bottles as a kid to leading Premier Water and Energy Technology and serving as a former president of . The result is not just a career story. It is a useful look at how credibility, collaboration, and standards are built over time in this industry. How Association of Water Technologies (AWT) was formed One of the most valuable parts of this discussion is Tom’s explanation of how Association of Water Technologies (AWT) began. The...

467 From PhD to Pump Rooms: Jake Elliott on Wastewater, Efficiency, and Saying “Yes” Wisely

Scaling UP! H2O

What happens when a water chemist leaves the lab and heads to the pump room? knows firsthand. A former PhD researcher who studied resource recovery from trade‑waste customers, Jake now manages accounts at in Melbourne, working with cooling towers, boilers, chemical dosing rigs and wastewater treatment systems. He joins host Trace Blackmore to discuss how rigorous research, regulatory compliance and process automation translate into practical field work for industrial water treatment professionals. From PhD Research to Industrial Practice Jake’s academic background informs the way he...

466 Stories, Math, and “Never Again” Moments: Inside AWT Technical Training with Dan Merritt (Part 2)

Scaling UP! H2O

AWT’s in‑person technical training is a keystone for developing competent water treaters. Yet classroom knowledge only matters when it survives the drive home and emerges later in the field. In this second conversation with —National Sales Manager at and head of AWT’s education committee—Trace Blackmore uncovers how stories, math, and memorable mistakes turn theory into intuition. Why training keeps evolving Dan explains that the rewrites courses every year. Instructors refine content, delivery and demonstrations, not for novelty’s sake, but because...

465 From Classroom to Cooling Towers: Teaching Water Treatment with Dan Merritt (Part 1)

Scaling UP! H2O

Industrial water training only works when the knowledge transfers. That means the material lands with the audience, survives the drive home, and shows up later in the field when decisions get made. , Sales Manager at , brings a rare perspective to that problem. He started as a teacher (chemistry, calculus, physics), entered industrial water treatment on February 5, 2002, and later became part of the AWT training team. This conversation follows the path from classroom instruction to boiler rooms and cooling towers, then uses that journey to examine what makes technical training...

464 Corrosion Coupons, Brand Building, and Having Fun at Trade Shows with Will Ritter

Scaling UP! H2O

"Don't be afraid to say I don’t know. - Will Ritter” Corrosion is expensive, relentless, and easy to underestimate—until a “lasagna battery” turns aluminum foil green and reminds you what electrochemistry can do in the real world. This conversation reframes corrosion coupons as what they actually are: a repeatable field test that can sharpen your decisions—if you treat the process with consistency. Respect the coupon, protect the data Trace breaks down why coupons became non-negotiable in his systems: they turn guesswork into usable...

463 Mapping the Future of Water Innovation with Paul O’Callaghan

Scaling UP! H2O

“If you say something over and over often and enough, it becomes true because perception is reality.” has built a career at the intersection of water science, wastewater realities, and the practical question every operator and executive eventually faces; what actually moves innovation from idea to adoption. As Founder and CEO of, Paul explains how his team helps decision-makers put capital to work more efficiently in water by reducing uncertainty and separating signal from noise. He describes patterns he’s watched repeat across water entrepreneurs, pilots, and...

462 From Lab Chemist to Field Mentor: Water, Culture, and Representation

Scaling UP! H2O

Industrial water work rewards people who can move between precision and practicality. brings both. She started as a lab chemist, then transitioned into field service with , where much of her work supports healthcare facilities and high-accountability programs. Lab habits that protect your tools and your data Katie describes the first surprise of field work: a central plant is “very dirty,” and the job demands good technique without chasing lab-level perfection. She shares a couple of simple practices that prevent expensive problems. Use proper lab wipes on...

461 Corrosion, Lead, and Algae: New Tools for Old Water Problems

Scaling UP! H2O

Corrosion rarely announces itself as a “big water problem.” It shows up as leaching at the tap, residual loss in the field, premature equipment replacement, and the slow, expensive erosion of decision-quality. (CEO) and (chemist/Chief Science Officer) of lay out a system-wide view of corrosion control—starting with what changed in Flint from a technical standpoint and moving into why many utilities still struggle to meet expectations when standards and risk assumptions shift. System-wide corrosion control starts with chemistry...

460 Building Boiler Talent: Fundamentals, Online Training, and Better Partnerships with Eric Johnson

Scaling UP! H2O

Boilers can feel intimidating the first time you step into a boiler room—the heat, the noise, the pressure gauge, and the weight of knowing that mistakes can be costly. Trace Blackmore opens with a reminder that boilers deserve respect, not fear—and that learning fundamentals is how you replace mystique with clarity. The talent gap behind the boiler room door , Founder and CEO of , explains why boiler expertise is becoming harder to replace. He points to the shrinking pipeline of boiler-trained technicians—historically strengthened by Navy steam...

459 From Wastewater to Resource: Water Reuse with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva

Scaling UP! H2O

Industrial water professionals are increasingly pulled into conversations about scarcity, resilience, and “where the next gallon comes from.” , CEO and Co-founder of frames water reuse as an implementation challenge more than a technology gap—and explains where the practical starting points are when the scope feels overwhelming. Moving reuse forward when the technology already exists Waterloop Solutions was founded to accelerate implementation: clarifying end-use quality, identifying post-treatment needs on the back end of...

More Episodes

The best leaders are the ones that can hold space for both—care personally and challenge directly.

Work never happens in a vacuum. Field calls, customer pressure, travel, and deadlines compound the very real mental load carried by water professionals. In this conversation, Dr. Andy Melton, a professional counselor and executive coach at www.andymelton.com—shares clear, practical ways leaders and teams can recognize mental health warning signs, set the right boundaries, and respond with care without stepping outside their role.

Care Personally, Challenge Directly—Inside Clear Boundaries

Managers aren’t neutral parties, and that matters. Andy explains the built-in conflict of interest when a supervisor probes too deeply into an employee’s personal struggles. You still need to check in—but do it in role: use open-ended, performance-anchored questions (“What’s been challenging for you lately?”), document observations, and offer resources instead of diagnoses. He also highlights Kim Scott’s “Radical Candor” frame—care personally and challenge directly—as a durable leadership posture for tough conversations.

Spotting Decline Early—Behavioral, Cognitive, Physical

Before missed KPIs and callbacks spike, there are tells: sudden drops in productivity, withdrawal, irritability, rising absence/tardiness, markedly negative self-talk, and physical complaints (fatigue, headaches, stomach issues). Andy shares a simple “dashboard” self-check—sleep and eating patterns—plus trackable 1–10 scales for stress, energy, engagement, and mood stability to catch trends early.

When It’s Serious—Safe Paths and Resources

Anonymous surveys can surface urgent risks—including suicidality. Andy outlines responsible next steps: widen communication, invite follow-ups, and immediately involve a mental health professional or crisis resources. Know the number 988 and your local mobile crisis team information; publish those options prominently so help is never far away.

Grounding Under Load—3 Techniques You Can Use Anywhere

For anxiety (mind racing ahead) and depression (mind stuck in the past), uniting mind and body in the present increases bandwidth. Andy teaches three job-friendly tools: the four-second “box” breath, a five-senses “sensory scan,” and a head-to-toe “progressive muscle relaxation.” Each can be done discreetly at a desk, in a service truck, or before a customer meeting.

Strong operations require strong people. Build a culture that normalizes check-ins, provides resources, and keeps performance expectations clear. That’s how teams protect each other and maintain reliability in the field.

Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!

Timestamps

02:20 - Trace welcome Industrial Water Week is next week and why it's our "Super Bowl"

11:38 — Water You Know with James McDonald

13: 11 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals

15:14 - Introduction for Dr. Andy Melton

15:35 - Andy's background

19:06 - Why mental health is hard to discuss at work; stigma and judgment

21:40 - Cognitive/physical signs: negative self-talk, fatigue, headaches, stomach issues

23:33 — Why self-awareness is hard; “mirror” idea of counseling/coaching

24:21 — Self “dashboard”: sleep and eating as early indicators

26:22 — Employer question: caring without crossing the line

31:44 — Impact on teammates and operations; why the talk still must happen

32:06 — Culture: build trust so care is believed

36:12 — Psychological safety: education via outside counselors/coaches; offer EAPs

42:07 — 988 explained; local mobile crisis teams and how they respond

45:06 — Awareness first: listen to body; define “stress” simply

48:27 — Grounding overview: techniques to reunite mind and body

Quotes

Struggles in mental health still have stigma… but I do think there are ways to handle this sensitive subject in the workplace.

It is really challenging as an employer to be a neutral sort of resource in someone’s life.