The Power Element Podcast

Hosted by Raul Guardado

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Episodes

106

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The Power Element Podcast is a leadership and safety podcast for linemen and construction professionals, focused on standards, accountability, and high-performance culture in the utility and construction industries. Join your hosts, Raul Guardado and Producer Paul, as they sit down with friends and colleagues both within and outside the power line industry. Follow Us: Instagram: @californialineworks Facebook and YouTube: Californialineworks

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60 recent

June 8, 2026Episode 1051 hr 20 min

Neil Tolson - Episode 105

In Episode 105 of The Power Element Podcast, Producer Paul sits down with Neil Tolson, Executive Director of EICA,to talk about the bigger purpose behind the Safety Wallet and why it matters to the electrical construction industry. Neil breaks down how this digital credential system helps workers keep track of certifications, training records,and qualifications without relying on stacks of cards or paperwork. Thank you, Neil Tolsonhttps://eica-us.org/This episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, and High Voltage Industries.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez @d.s.s._beats @DSSbeats Follow us on Instagram @ CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Please continue the conversation about mental health and well-being within your community. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo. Suicide, crisis, and lifeline: Dial 988.The Power Element Podcast is a leadership, culture, and safety podcast for linemen and construction professionals, focused on standards, accountability, and high-performance culture in the utility and construction industries. #podcast #leadership #constructionwork

March 25, 2026Episode 10456 min

Lineman vs. Samurai | Everyone Leads Series - Episode 104

What do Samurai and Journeyman Linemen have in common? More than you think. In this episode of Everyone Leads, we connect Bushidō to the IBEW Code of Excellence and explore what true professionalism, courage, and accountability look like when the stakes are real and people are depending on you. In the second half, we shift gears into imprinting and how work habits are passed along to coworkers.This episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group. Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, High Voltage Industries, and Vimocity.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez@d.s.s._beats | @DSSbeatsFollow us on Instagram: @CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo.Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988The Power Element Podcast is a leadership and safety podcast for linemen and construction professionals, focused on standards, accountability, and high-performance culture in the utility and construction industries. #podcast #leadership #service #construction #disciplineequalsfreedom

March 16, 2026Episode 1031 hr 19 min

Steve Foster - Episode 103

In episode 103 of The Power Element Podcast, the crew welcomes Steve Foster, Director of Corporate Safety Training at MYR Group, in the SoCal studio for a casual conversation about what it really takes to build safer, stronger crews. From leadership at every level to training that actually sticks, Steve shares lessons from a career spent in the field and in safety, plus what he believes needs to change across the industry to reduce serious injuries and fatalities.Thank you, Steve Foster@myrgroup This episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, and High Voltage Industries.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez @d.s.s._beats @DSSbeats Follow us on Instagram @ CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Please continue the conversation about mental health and well-being within your community. Be your Brother’s Keeper. The Power Element Podcast is a leadership and safety podcast for linemen and construction professionals, focused on standards, accountability, and high-performance culture in the utility and construction industries. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo. Suicide, crisis, and lifeline Dial 988.#podcast #leadership #constructionwork

March 9, 2026Episode 10233 min

Food That Fuels | Everyone Leads Series with Zach Brown - Episode 102

In this episode of Everyone Leads, we sit down with Zach Brown, Journeyman Lineman and Safety Training Manager with MYR Group, to break down two things every lineman and leader faces daily: how to fuel the body for demanding work and how to lead when safety and productivity are both on the line.We kick things off with an Ask Copilot segment answering a question every working hand has asked at some point: What’s the ideal daily meal to fuel a journeyman lineman?In the second half, we shift gears into leadership, tackling a trending industry challenge: balancing safety and productivity in high demand projects. With tighter deadlines and zero injury expectations, foremen and supervisors are under more pressure than ever. Zach shares real world insights on communicating priorities, empowering crews to speak up, and applying leadership principles like Extreme Ownership to take responsibility for both the schedule and the safety outcomes.This episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group. Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, High Voltage Industries, and Vimocity.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez@d.s.s._beats | @DSSbeatsFollow us on Instagram: @CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo.Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988The Power Element Podcast is a leadership and safety podcast for linemen and construction professionals, focused on standards, accountability, and high-performance culture in the utility and construction industries. #podcast #leadership #service #construction #disciplineequalsfreedom

February 20, 2026Episode 10140 min

Clayton Loback - Episode 101

In Episode 101 of The Power Element Podcast, Raul and Producer Paul sit down with a Superintendent and Journeyman Lineman from Sturgeon Electric California for a candid debrief following the Top Gun Leadership Summit.Coming from the front lines of the power utility industry, the conversation centers on real-world leadership, what resonated at the summit, what challenged existing mindsets, and how those lessons translate directly to the field. From accountability and ownership to communication, standards, and leading crews under pressure, this episode breaks down leadership from the perspective of someone who lives it every day.Recorded following the Top Gun Leadership Summit, this episode delivers practical takeaways for anyone responsible for leading people, managing risk, and developing the next generation of leaders in the trade. Thank you, Clayton Loback.This episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, High Voltage Industries, and Vimocity.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez@d.s.s._beats | @DSSbeatsFollow us on Instagram: @CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo.Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 #podcast #leadership #service #construction #disciplineequalsfreedom

February 13, 2026Episode 1001 hr 8 min

Happy 100 | Everyone Leads Series : Episode 100

We’re kicking off an all-new series, Everyone Leads. Along with a milestone moment as The Power Element Podcast celebrates its 100th episode.In this special episode, Host Raul Guardado and Producer Paul reflect on the journey that brought us here and the leadership lessons learned along the way. The show features an “Ask Copilot” segment that looks at the power utility industry then and now, exploring how the trade, technology, and leadership mindset have evolved over time.We also answer questions submitted by our listeners, giving a voice to the audience that has helped shape the podcast since the beginning. To close out the episode, Raul and Paul reflect on the insights, growth, and purpose behind the first 100 episodes—and why leadership truly exists at every level.This episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, High Voltage Industries, and Vimocity.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez@d.s.s._beats | @DSSbeatsFollow us on Instagram: @CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo.Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988#podcast #leadership #service #humanitarian #construction #disciplineequalsfreedom

February 11, 2026Episode 9945 min

Dave Berke - Episode 99

In Episode 99 of The Power Element Podcast, Raul and Producer Paul sit down with Dave Berke of Echelon Front to discuss leadership rooted in accountability, humility, and real-world experience.Dave shares insights shaped by his career as a U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot and his work today developing leaders through Echelon Front. The conversation also highlights the release of his new book, The Need to Lead, where Dave challenges leaders at every level to step up, take ownership, and embrace the responsibility that leadership demands.This episode dives deep into what it means to lead when the pressure is on, owning outcomes, building trust within teams, and developing the next generation of leaders. Dave’s perspective reinforces a powerful message: leadership isn’t about position or title, but about action, discipline, and the willingness to serve others.This episode was recorded live at the Top Gun Leadership Summit. Thank you, Dave Berke and the Echelon Front Team.echelonfront.com @davidrberkeThis episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, High Voltage Industries, and Vimocity.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez@d.s.s._beats | @DSSbeatsFollow us on Instagram: @CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo.Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988#podcast #leadership #service #humanitarian #construction #disciplineequalsfreedom

February 2, 2026Episode 9842 min

Justin Wren - Episode 98

In Episode 98 of The Power Element Podcast, Raul and Producer Paul sit down with Justin Wren—former UFC fighter, humanitarian, and founder of Fight for the Forgotten- to discuss leadership through service, purpose, and action beyond the spotlight. Justin shares his powerful journey from professional fighting to advocating for some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. Through Fight for the Forgotten, he has dedicated his life to bringing clean water, protection, and hope to the Pygmy communities of the Congo. This conversation dives deep into overcoming personal battles and what it truly means to use your platform to serve others.This episode was recorded live at the Top Gun Leadership Summit. Thank you, Justin Wren and the Fight for the Forgotten team. Learn more and support their mission: www.fightfortheforgotten.orgThis episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, High Voltage Industries, and Vimocity.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez@d.s.s._beats | @DSSbeatsFollow us on Instagram: @CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo.Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988#podcast #leadership #service #humanitarian #construction #FightForTheForgotten

January 26, 2026Episode 971 hr 0 min

Jason Gardner - Episode 97

In Episode 97 of The Power Element Podcast, Raul and Producer Paul sit down with Jason Gardner, former Navy SEAL and leadership instructor at Echelon Front, to explore what it truly means to lead from the front. Jason brings decades of experience in high stakes environments and shares practical insights on building resilient teams, combating complacency, and embracing the principles of Extreme Ownership. This episode was recorded live from the Top Gun Leadership Summit. Thank you, Jason Gardner and the Echelon Front Team @jason.n.gardner@echelonfront@movalleyjatcThis episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, High Voltage Industries, and Vimocity.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez @d.s.s._beats @DSSbeats Follow us on Instagram @ CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo. Suicide, crisis, and lifeline Dial 988.#podcast #leadership #construction

January 13, 2026Episode 961 hr 10 min

Leigh Conducy - Episode 96

In Episode 96 of The Power Element Podcast, Raul and Producer Paul sit down with Missouri Valley JATC’s Leigh Conducy to launch our Top Gun Leadership Summit series. From field‑tested leadership lessons to building mentorship, strengthening culture, and sharing stories from the trade, this conversation sets the stage for a powerful lineup of episodes recorded live at the Top Gun Leadership Summit in Iowa. Tune in for practical leadership insights and a behind‑the‑scenes look at an event that’s helping shape the future of our industry.Thank you, Leigh Conducy and the Missouri Valley JATC team. @movalleyjatcThis episode is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, Wye Delta, and High Voltage Industries.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez @d.s.s._beats @DSSbeats Follow us on Instagram @ CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Please continue the conversation about mental health and well-being within your community. Be your Brother’s Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo. Suicide, crisis, and lifeline Dial 988.#podcast #leadership #construction