Line Life Podcast

Hosted by Endeavor Business Media

Business

Website RSS feed

Episodes

162

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

Whether you are on the road to a job site or storm restoration effort or relaxing after a long workday, you can listen to stories about storm restoration efforts, best practices in line work and the men and women in the line trade. You will also have the opportunity to share your comments on topics covered in the podcasts.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 13626 min

ICYMI: Hurricanes Helene and Milton: One Year Later

In this ICYMI episode for the Line Life Podcast, Duke Energy lineworkers who responded to Hurricanes Helene and Milton share their stories about the long shifts, logistical challenges, and the teamwork that restored power and hope to devastated communities. The episode also shares practical hurricane-response best practices, rapid-restoration achievements, and how local communities and crews supported one another during recovery. To read the story, which appeared in the January 2026 issue of T&D World magazine right after the one-year anniversary of the hurricanes, visit the website. Also, if your line crew has just finished a storm restoration and wants to share your story, please email Amy Fischbach, host of the Line Life Podcast and Head of Content for T&D World, with high-resolution photos of the damage and restoration. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your best practices for storm restoration with our readers, subscribers and Line Life Podcast listeners.

June 5, 2026Episode 13516 min

America's Favorite Lineman: Behind the Scenes with Austin Carr from Lakeland Electric

Austin Carr, a lineworker for Lakeland Electric, said he has access to some of the best training programs available. He quickly discovered, however, that others in the line trade are not as fortunate. To share his knowledge and experiences with other lineworkers, he started posting videos on TikTok and became "America's Favorite Lineman." He has published hundreds of episodes so far and enjoys teaching others about best practices in the line trade on TikTok, where he has more than 115,000 followers and 1.8 million likes. During this Line Life Podcast episode, he talks about staying safe and hydrated in hot and humid conditions in Florida, dealing with water snakes and alligators and being on call 24/7. He also shares how he balances his work and family life as a married dad of two young daughters. He gave a shout-out to his wife and other line wives for all they do to support lineworkers on the line. For more information about Austin and to view his training videos, subscribe to his TikTok channel or follow him on Instagram or Facebook. If you know of a lineworker we should put in the spotlight, please email Amy Fischbach, Head of Content for T&D World and host of the Line Life Podcast. Thanks for listening!

May 22, 2026Episode 13419 min

ICYMI: Safeguarding Human Flight Amid Drone Expansion

As lineworkers and pilots work "inside the wires" from helicopters, drones could soon be a part of this shielded airspace. Mike Starner of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and Heather Moran of Level Ascent Solutions explored the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed rules regulating the use of drones. This audio story, authored by Mike Starner of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and Heather Moran of Level Ascent Solutions, was featured in the January 2026 issue of T&D World magazine. Their story highlights safety concerns around rights-of-way and the need for rapid communication and coordination. It also shares how technologies can help if implemented with input from pilots, drone operators and utility safety professionals. Listeners will hear why preserving human judgment and teamwork is essential as drone inspections and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations expand. It will also focus on why collaboration, standardized protocols and training are critical to safely modernize inspections above the power line. For more information, read the article on the T&D World website.

May 15, 2026Episode 13311 min

Live from Chicago: Spotlight on Technology at the 2026 IEEE PES T&D

Join us for a roundup from the IEEE PES T&D 2026 conference in Chicago, featuring interviews with exhibitors about the rise of 765 kV transmission, the looming matting shortage for large build-outs and the growing power demand from data centers. Vendors and technology providers discuss solutions for improving grid reliability and resilience. Hear conversations with Hubbell, Shemar, Sterling Site Access Solutions, Smart Power and Ayr Energy about local manufacturing, automated mat production, power-flow technologies and upcoming projects representing gigawatts of new capacity. For more coverage and videos, visit www.tdworld.com and tune into our sister podcast, T&D World Live. You can also listen to our latest episode in our ICYMI series, "Powering Reliability: Inside the 2026 IEEE PES T&D Show" on Podbean or in your favorite podcasting app. Thanks for listening!

May 8, 2026Episode 13216 min

ICYMI: Powering Reliability: Inside the 2026 IEEE PES T&D Show

The T&D World team just returned from Chicago for the 2026 IEEE PES T&D Conference and Exposition. This audio story in our ICYMI series previews the event, featuring a Q&A with Jackie Peer, director of industry outreach for the event steering committee, and Carla Frieh, co-chair of the local organizing committee. Power engineering professionals from around the world came together in Chicago from May 4-7 to explore practical solutions for a more reliable, resilient grid. ComEd hosted the week of education and networking at the McCormick Place in Chicago, where attendees could browse exhibits on the show floor, attend technical and panel sessions and participate in technical tours and networking events. To see more coverage of the event, stay tuned to the T&D World website and look for a future episode of the T&D World Live Podcast, which will feature a recap moderated by Christina Marsh with Amy Fischbach and Nikki Chandler of T&D World.

May 1, 2026Episode 13123 min

Ramping Up Resiliency in Houston: Featuring Nathan Brownell of CenterPoint Energy

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, CenterPoint Energy began modernizing its system through the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI). To improve resiliency and reliability, the utility is performing targeted undergrounding of its power lines, clearing vegetation and installing storm-resistant fiberglass poles in its service territory. For this episode of the T&D World Line Life Podcast, Nathan Brownell, vice president of resilience and capital delivery for CenterPoint, shares how his utility is striving to have the most resilient coastal grid in the country. For more information, read the cover story of the June 2026 issue of T&D World magazine. You can also stay tuned to the Line Life Podcast to listen to a narrated version of this article in our ICYMI series.

April 24, 2026Episode 13016 min

ICYMI: Record-Breaking Rodeo: A Week of Safety, Innovation and Competition

Join the T&D World Line Life Podcast as we recap the record-setting 2025 International Lineman's Rodeo Week in Kansas City — a week of safety training, cutting-edge tools on the trade show floor, Trade Night traditions and the intense competition that showcases the best in the line trade. Hear stories of resilience and self-preservation in the line trade from the safety and training conference and discover how the industry comes together to celebrate skills, innovation and community during the annual International Lineman's Rodeo Week. Visit the T&D World website to read this story from the December print issue online. While you're on Podbean or on your favorite podcasting app, listen to another audio story for the Line Life Podcast about the results of the 2025 competition: "Lineman's Rodeo Rewind." We look forward to seeing you in mid-October for the 2026 International Lineman's Rodeo Week! Stay tuned to the field-focused Electric Utility Operations page for more information about the 2026 event and year-round coverage of the line trade. You can also subscribe to our Lineman Life and Lineman's Rodeo News enewsletter on our website and visit the website for the International Lineman's Rodeo Association (ILRA) for more details.

April 17, 2026Episode 12920 min

Heroes on the Line: Celebrating the 2026 National Lineman Appreciation Day

In this special episode celebrating the 2026 National Lineman Appreciation Day, Line Life Podcast Host Amy Fischbach shares favorite clips from past podcast interviews featuring lineworkers recounting why they joined the trade, unforgettable storms and the camaraderie that keeps the lights on. Listeners will hear voices from across the industry — from apprentices to veterans — with stories of resilience, community response to disasters and the personal sacrifices line workers make to restore power. If you have stories to share from the 2026 National Lineman Appreciation Day or would like to be a guest on a future episode of the Line Life Podcast, email Amy Fischbach, Head of Content for T&D World.

April 10, 2026Episode 12815 min

ICYMI: International Lineman's Rodeo Rewind

For more than four decades, the International Lineman's Rodeo has brought the line trade together for camaraderie and competition. Last October, the Rodeo Week drew a record crowd of more than 5,000 attendees. Apprentices and journeymen lineworkers competed in the Pole Climb, Hurtman Rescue and mystery events that showcased safety, skill, tradition and teamwork. This Line Life Podcast episode revisits top winners, memorable moments and special events ahead of the 2026 competition. Read the full article from the December 2025 issue and check out more coverage on the T&D World website. You can also learn more about the 2026 International Lineman's Rodeo, slated for Oct. 14-17, 2026, in Kansas City, by subscribing to our Lineman Life or Lineman's Rodeo News enewsletters or by visiting the International Lineman's Rodeo Association (ILRA) website.

April 3, 2026Episode 12720 min

The Legend Lives On: The Story of Slim the Lineman

Because lineworkers are heroes and first responders, they have been celebrated in songs, books and movies. For this episode of the T&D World Line Life Podcast, we are featuring an interview with William Wister Haines, Jr., the son of the author of Slim and the companion book, High Tension. During this episode, William shares the story of how his father's book, inspired by his work in the line trade, became not only a national bestseller, but also a Hollywood movie starring Henry Fonda. Years later, he continued his father's legacy by bringing both books back into print. He now personally inscribes and ships copies to training programs and lineworkers nationwide. To order a copy of the books, go to his website.