This episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape introduces Dr. Erin Phillips, Director of Cross-Cutting Programs and Acting Senior Director of Research, at the UW School of Energy Resources as the new host of the podcast. For Dr. Phillips' debut, she sits down with the outgoing Executive Director, Dr. Holly Krutka, for a reflective and insightful conversation as Dr. Krutka steps away from her role at SER. Join us as we honor Dr. Krutka's tremendous impact and officially pass the torch to Dr. Phillips, who will now guide the conversation on the ever-changing Wyoming energy landscape.

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, we sit down with Anthony Nickens, Division Director of Materials & Manufacturing at Idaho National Laboratory. We explore how INL is advancing critical minerals research, bridging the gap between lab and industry, and enabling resilient supply chains for energy and minerals security. Anthony shares lessons from national lab–university–industry collaborations, the technological frontiers in mineral separations and processing, and how Wyoming might play a pivotal role in the nation’s mineral future. Along the way, we talk workforce development, pilot scale challenges, policy needs, and what it takes to turn scientific promise into impact on the ground.

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, we sit down with Dave Emery, former Chairman and CEO of Black Hills Energy and member of the Energy Resources Council, to talk about his journey from a University of Wyoming engineering student to leading one of the region’s most influential energy companies. Emery shares insights on leadership, the evolving role of electric utilities, and why Wyoming’s commitment to innovation—through the School of Energy Resources (SER) and statewide collaboration—matters more than ever. His reflections on teamwork, mentorship, and vision provide a powerful lens on what it means to lead through change in today’s energy landscape.