TAPPI Podcast Network

Hosted by Jan Bottiglieri

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Jun 2026

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The TAPPI Podcast Network offers engaging conversations with the most innovative leaders in the packaging, pulp, paper, tissue and converting industries through wide-ranging interviews on current topics relevant to listeners at every stage of their careers.

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42 recent

June 2, 202628 min

Uptime: Dr. Selene Silvestri

'Minutes, Not Days': Dr. Selene Silvestri on AI Tools for Supply Chain Decision-Making "Driving the Future of Global Supply Chain Integration" —that's the motto that greets visitors to the website of MIT's Center for Transportation and Logistics in Cambridge, MA. Through research, education, and stakeholder engagement, MIT CTL doesn't merely study supply chains—they advance what’s possible and turn insight into action. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Selene Silvestri, a research scientist at the MIT CTL in the Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab. Silvestri's current research addresses supply chain network design and optimization, to help companies improve decision-making in their supply chain. In Paper360°'s May/June issue, readers learn about one of the Lab's most exciting new projects: the GENESIS platform, developed in partnership with Mecalux, a warehouse technology and intralogistics software enterprise. Silvestri discusses GENESIS and much more in this engaging episode of UpTime. "What GENESIS allows you to do is solve scenarios in minutes," she tells listeners. "And if you can solve scenarios in minutes, you do not only solve those that you want to validate. You solve scenarios that you want to explore, right?" Stay tuned until the Lightning Round, when co-host Mark Rushton asks Dr. Silverstri about the biggest changes she has seen in the packaging industry over the last 10 years. Learn more about MIT's <a href="https://ctl.mit.edu/">Center for Transportation and Logistics</a> and its many specialized labs—including the Computational Analytics, Visualization & Education (<a href="https://ctl.mit.edu/research/cave">CAVE</a>) Lab that Dr. Silvestri references in this conversation. Discover <a href="https://ctl.mit.edu/workforce-leadership-development">Workforce & Leadership Development</a> opportunities that can help your mill or plant build, upskill, and advance your supply chain employees and teams. Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform: <ul> <li><a href="https://ondemand.tappi.org/paper360-2/">Paper360° Archives</a>, including the complete May/June 2026 issue.</li> <li><a href="https://ondemand.tappi.org/uptime/">UpTime episode</a> featuring Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki on navigating supply chain challenges.</li> <li>Mark Rushton's article <a href="https://ondemand.tappi.org/saica-in-spain-a-walk-into-the-future-of-mill-logistics/">Saica in Spain: A Walk Into the Future of Mill Logistics</a>.</li> </ul>

May 21, 202629 min

Uptime: Matt and Jefferson, WESCO

Crib Crawls and Curve Balls: Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki on Supply Chain Challenges From aging infrastructures to multi-company mergers, Wesco's Jefferson Smith and Matt Lasnicki have helped their pulp and paper industry customers through a variety of supply chain challenges. As Smith shares in his Paper360° article, Operations Depend on Equipment Supply Chains, it's an area mills ignore at their peril: One delayed part can rack up millions of dollars in downtime losses. In this episode of Uptime, Jeff and Matt, along with co-hosts Mark Rushton and Jan Bottiglieri, discuss the current reality for supply chain management—and some strategies for dealing with a world that's increasingly disruptive. "It all compounds," says Lasnicki. " The cost to operate (mills and converting facilities) keeps going up and if they don't find ways to drive efficiency, it's going to be a much bigger challenge for them in the future." Stick around for the Uptime Lightning Round, when we ask Matt and Jeff about the most exciting things they see ahead for supply chain management in paper and packaging. Thanks for listening! Access additional articles and case studies about effective supply chain management through Wesco's <a href="https://www.wesco.com/us/en/knowledge-hub.html#tabs-f32d508993-item-d311bfe7d4-tab">Knowledge Hub</a>. Review Wesco's <a style="color: #339966" href="https://www.wesco.com/us/en/industries/industrial-and-manufacturing/pulp-and-paper.html">products and services</a> for pulp and paper industry customers. Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform: <ul> <li><a href="https://ondemand.tappi.org/paper360-2/">Paper360° Archives</a> of searchable articles</li> <li>Search a variety of other industry topics, including <a href="https://ondemand.tappi.org/industry-market-trends/">Market Trends</a></li> </ul>

April 23, 202629 min

UpTime: Bodo Kottwitz on Tissue Markets Today

Still Looking for Balance: Bodo Kottwitz on Tissue Markets Today As a tissue industry consultant, Bodo Kottwitz is more than just the CEO of <a href="https://www.bkay-tissue.de/">BKay Tissue Advice</a>; he's something of an industry rock star. Bodo has a long career in pulp and paper and frequently speaks about the tissue industry and its markets at conferences and events around the globe. In this episode of UpTime, co-hosts Mark Rushton and Jan Bottiglieri chat with Bodo about how he sees the modern tissue industry—including supply chain challenges, energy costs, and true sustainability. When it comes to tissue markets, "uncertainty is more or less the headline all over the world," Bodo tells us. Stick around for the UpTime Lightning Round, when Bodo tells us his biggest challenge—and his biggest regret—in his industry journey. Thanks for listening! Click to watch <a style="color: #008000" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13GTbEW0bco">the "Emma" Sofidel toilet tissue ad</a> mentioned in our chat. Learn how to grow your career by becoming involved with <a href="https://www.tappi.org/members/divisions--committees/tissue/">TAPPI's Tissue Division</a>. Access more resources through the TAPPI OnDemand platform: <ul> <li>Bodo's Fall/Winter 2025 Tissue360° feature, <a href="https://ondemand.tappi.org/uncertainty-dominates-tissue-markets/">Uncertainty Dominates Tissue Markets</a></li> <li>Mark Rushton's Fall/Winter 2025 Tissue 360° <a href="https://ondemand.tappi.org/sofidel-the-making-of-a-tissue-industry-giant/">interview with Luigi Lazzareschi, Sofidel</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.tissue360-digital.com/ppib/library/">View the Tissue360° archive</a>, including the Spring/Summer 2026 issue.</li> </ul>

March 13, 202634 min

Better Together: 2026 Student Summit

<img class="alignnone wp-image-9248" src="https://ondemand.tappi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SS_RecordingMontage.png" alt="" width="989" height="279" /> This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's <a href="https://events.tappi.org/event/studentsummit/home">2026 Student Summit</a> in Birmingham, AL. More than 200 students, plus scores of other attendees, enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, an Engineering Challenge, and so much more. Pulp and paper engineering students came from more than15 leading paper, packaging, engineering, and technical programs to participate in a program focused on "Charting Tomorrow." We asked students to "take the mic" to let listeners know what matters to them. As always, they responded with humor, candor, and their own unique insights. This episode includes student commentary from five TAPPI Student Chapter schools: <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Georgia Institute of Technology </li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Western Michigan University </li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Auburn University </li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">University of Wisconsin Stevens Point </li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">North Carolina State University </li> </ul> Useful links: <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instructables.com/Truffula-Trees/">How to Craft Tissue Paper Truffula Trees</a> </li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://imisrise.tappi.org/TAPPI/Products/02/SMO/0202SMOOK4.aspx">Latest edition of Handbook For Pulp and Paper Technologists (The SMOOK Book)</a> </li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">TAPPI-sponsored <a href="https://www.tappi.org/education/college-and-university-programs/scholarship-overview/">Scholarships for Industry Students </a></li> </ul> I'm sure you'll enjoy our student hosts for this energetic episode of Better Together! Don't forget to share this episode to spread the word about opportunities in pulp and paper—and subscribe to TAPPI's Better Together podcast channel so you won'tmiss future episodes of Better Together: TAPPI's Live Event Podcast and Uptime: A Paper and Packaging Podcast. Thanks for listening!

December 26, 202544 min

Better Together: 2025 CorrExpo

At CorrExpo 2025 in Savannah, GA, more than 1000 industry pros gathered to "Explore What’s Possible and Build What’s Next." This recorded-on-site episode of Better Together includes three engaging mini-interviews that capture some of the engagement and excitement of being there in person. CorrExpo 2025 featured an active exhibit floor, memorable networking events, and an expert-led technical program. In this episode, we'll be speaking with: · Carl Mazzanti, Co-Founder and President of eMazzanti Technologies. Carl and Jan discuss some of the amazing benefits AI can offer box makers · Christine Little, director of sales/Corrugated Machinery Division, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Learn how innovative machines can help our industry manage workforce challenges. · Jeff Buchanan, Director of Sales and Market Development, and Stephanie Falcone, Process Engineer, HarperLove. Jeff and Stephanie tell Jan about an intern program that's making a difference for young engineers. <a>Click to read more</a> about CorrExpo 2025 in Savannah—including CorrExpo LIVE! videos, event photos, Sponsor Showcase videos, and more. SAVE THE DATE for TAPPI/AICC's Corrugated Week, September 28-30, 2026 in Fort Worth, TX. <a>Sign up for updates</a> so you won't miss this exciting event. BIG NEWS: TAPPI is launching a NEW podcast series called Uptime! A Paper and Packaging Podcast, hosted by Jan Bottiglieri and Mark Rushton, editor of TAPPI's Tissue360° magazine. Uptime! will bring listeners 30-minute interviews with industry leaders and innovators that feature lively questions, thoughtful insights, and even a fun "lightning round" to keep guests on their toes. Better Together subscribers will automatically receive new Uptime! episodes so if you are not already subscribed, please do so—then share with colleagues, clients, and industry friends.

July 3, 202538 min

Better Together: 2025 TAPPICon Live! - Episode 1

We're excited to bring listeners this first of two special episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7. We had a great turnout for TAPPICon 2025 and there was more than enough positive energy to go around. TAPPICon’s multi-track program is planned and executed by real working papermakers, and it shows – always a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together. Here is YOUR change to experience some of that energy! We've assembled three interviews recorded with attendees at the event. Our eclectic group of guests for this episode includes: Frank Mignano—Manager, condition monitoring and Industry 4.0 solutions, <a href="https://www.schaeffler.us/us/">Schaeffler Group</a>: "This kind of technology and toolsets are the things that entice and encourage the younger folks to get involved in the paper industry." Robert Bustin—Business development manager at <a href="https://www.radixeng.com/">Radix Engineering</a>: "We are taking data at mills and making it more valuable, useful, and available." Thierry LeBlanc— Software and EHS Expert at <a href="https://www.conformit.com/">CONFORMiT</a>: "AI is going to continue to evolve—it's going to be much more integrated into everything we do." If you've never been to TAPPICon, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars for April 22 – 26, 2026, and plan to join us in Atlanta, GA, for TAPPICon 2026. We hope this podcast captured some of the excitement but to really get it, you need to be there. Thanks to these three professionals for sharing their knowledge and stories. Be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/1295744/episodes/17422598">second TAPPICon 2025 Episode</a> as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.

July 3, 202545 min

Better Together: 2025 TAPPICon Live! - Episode 2

We're excited to bring listeners our second of two episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7. TAPPICon 2025 was a huge success, with strong attendance and a revised multi-track program that let attendees plan exactly the experience they needed. As always, there was a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together. To try to capture some of that energy, I set up my podcast table right off the exhibit floor and talked to folks from throughout the industry. Our three guests for this episode include: Priya Venkat—Co-founder and COO of <a href="https://www.haberwater.com/">Haber</a>: "There is so much pressure in terms of costs, maintaining a workforce, achieving net zero—the only way our industry can get there is by leveraging AI." Rich Ermlick—Principal at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/richermlick/">Boring Excellence</a>: "If you find yourself doing the same improvement projects every three to five years, you're not improving. That indicates there is not an underlying system." Curtis Stone—Application engineer, Pulp & Paper, at <a href="https://www.schaeffler.us/us/">Schaeffler Group</a>: "Bearings in a paper machine are one of the most highly engineered pieces of equipment... there is no one silver bullet." Thanks to our three guests for sharing their perspectives with Better Together listeners. Be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/1295744/episodes/17422432">first TAPPICon 2025 Episode</a> as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees. I hope we were able to capture some of the excitement of a live event – but to really get it, you need to be there in person. So if you were not able to make it to Minneapolis this year, we hope to see you in Atlanta for TAPPICon 2026 – put it on your calendars, April 22 – 26, 2026.

April 2, 202542 min

Better Together: Live @ 2025 Student Summit - Ep. 1 "Papermaking is a Miracle"

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices. First up, Western Michigan University students Parker Langellier and Toby Archer interview Dr. Med Byrd, Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator for the Paper Science and Engineering program at North Carolina State University. "The paper process is very unique, very specific, and—let's face it—delightfully funky," Dr. Byrd tells our hosts, as they explore what makes pulp and paper such an amazing career choice. Next, veteran Student Summiteers Tanner Stogner and Michael Reuss interview first-time Summit attendees Conyers Preveaux and Gavin Knight. All four are students at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. As one student comments, "You see familiar faces all around. It's really nice that we have 300 people here and we all want the same thing: to grow our industry." This is the first of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Make sure to Subscribe to Better Together so you won't miss the next episode!

April 2, 202540 min

Better Together: Live @ 2025Student Summit - Ep. 2 "A Swiss Army Knife of Knowledge"

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices. Our first guest hosts are Tabitha Newberry, Katelyn Gyurich, and Shelby Conley, three students studying Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University. "I think my favorite part of student summit is making connections," says one of our students, as they discuss what makes this industry truly special. Their enthusiasm for TAPPI is contagious... and they may just have the next billion-dollar idea in specialty tissue. Next, Jacob Levesque, a chemical engineering student in the pulp and paper program at the University of Maine, interviews TAPPI's own Sidney Onyekwere, Standards Project Coordinator, about the tremendous knowledge-growing possibilities for students within the Standards and TIPs process. "We offer a Swiss army knife of knowledge and information—there's something for everyone," Sidney says. This is the second of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Subscribe today to Better Together and share this episode to spread the word about the amazing opportunities available to students who choose a career in pulp, paper, and packaging.

December 4, 202434 min

Better Together: Supporting Pulp & Paper Sciences Students, Naomi Gehling of Auburn University

On this episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Naomi Gehling, Academic Programs Administrator for Auburn University in Auburn, AL. A former Auburn alum herself, Naomi shares her knowledge about what students in the pulp and paper sciences really want from a career in our industries. Our students are amazing—they're so smart, and they're ready to go," she says. "I've not met anyone in our Pulp and Paper program who is not excited about going into our industry. They're invested." Auburn has an undergraduate specialization that focuses on pulp and paper industry training; that specialization is open to students from a variety of engineering disciplines. The Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering, hosted within Auburn's Department of Chemical Engineering, has a complete, controlled-conditioned, wettest laboratory for chemically and physically evaluating pulp and paper. The Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation (APPF) provides scholarship support for students on the way to becoming highly skilled, entry level engineers in the pulp, paper and allied Industries. The APPF connects those students to engaging Co-op or intern experiences within papermaking or supplier companies, and then finally with full-time employment in the industry for those students as they graduate. The annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit is the premier event for students in engineering and technical programs nationwide. No matter where you are in your academic journey, it’s the perfect chance to network with fellow students, industry experts, hiring companies, and potential mentors. The 2025 Student Summit will take place January 18-20 in St. Petersburg, FL.