Shows
Smart Acids™Freight FuturesIn this high-octane episode of Smart Acids, we’re riding shotgun with Chris Pickett, Lead Market Analyst at Pickett Research and Chief Commercial Officer at Flock Freight—the largest Shared Truckload brokerage in the U.S. Listen Here: Chris shares: 🚚 The current state of the U.S. truckload freight market📊 Surprising data points shaping 2025 logistics📈 How to use data to stay ahead of market shifts 🔎 Whether you're a logistics professional, supply chain strategist, or just love a good market cycle breakdown, this episode delivers insights you can’t afford to miss....2025-06-2529 min
Smart Acids™From Alt Rock to Alt FuelsIn this episode, we sit down with Jacob Givens—actor, social media influencer, and Director of Promotion & Marketing at Biofriendly —to explore the intersection of Alternative Music and Alternative Fuels. With over 500,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Jacob has built a loyal audience by blending nostalgic 90s music content with a passion for environmental change. We dive into: How Jacob uses music to connect generations and promote green messaging The science and mission behind Green Plus®, Biofriendly’s fuel additive The evolving role of regulation, and innovation in the clean energy space Whether...2025-05-1625 min
Smart Acids™Tackling Tariffs Together - Expert Insights and StrategiesJoin hosts Andy and Chris as they dive into the complexities of tariffs and their impact on the chemical industry in this enlightening episode of the Smart Acids Podcast. Featuring expert insights from Dwayne Roark, VP of Corporate Affairs, Communications & Marketing at Univar Solutions, this episode explores historical tariff acts, current updates, and innovative strategies to navigate these challenges. Discover the best path forward for the industry and learn how we can stick together and thrive despite obstacles. Listen in for a discussion you won't want to miss! 02:44 Country Tariff Quiz: Does Dwayne know where the country i...2025-04-1038 minSmart Acids™Chips: Beyond phones and video gamesIn this episode, the Smart Acids hosts welcome Joe 'Sherlock' Holmes, Business Development Manager, Electronics. Joe gives us a glimpse into the world of semiconductors and paints a vivid picture of the industry's ecosystem. He'll also provide insights into how vital the right chemistry solutions are and why he is optimistic about what lies ahead for the chip industry. 01:03 Joe 'Sherlock' Holmes explains his professional background and career02:21 Chips quiz: Does Joe know chips?04:35 The semiconductor ecosystem05:30 CHIPS Act: Its correlation to industry growth, economic and national security07:33 Examining t...2024-10-2923 minSmart Acids™A look back at two legendary careersSmart Acids welcome back both Duane 'Papa Z' Ziolkoswki and Rick 'Ricky Lee' Roth. In this special episode Duane and Rick provide a retrospective on each of their 40+ year careers, the distribution industry over time, what has changed and what has remained constant. 01:30 – Papa Z shows up in a suit and tie and turns the tables with a surprise quiz04:30 – Chemical distribution over time, including changes in distributor makeup, technical support and access, global connectedness07:11 – People and tech-related trends09:37 – Quiz: Rick ‘Ricky Lee’ Roth gets tested on all things retirement...2024-08-2919 minSmart Acids™Pricing roller coaster ride and the return of ethanolLearn about the alcohol market's ups and downs and gain valuable insights into what's ahead for IPA and ethanol. The Smart Acids hosts welcome Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski, Product Director, Solvents for Univar Solutions. Listen as he explores the industry's latest market trends, including: Pricing fluctuationsChanging marketEnd-use evolution01:50 – Welcome back, Papa Z02:12 – Quiz: inventions that didn't exist before Duane's 40-year career04:40 – Fickle propylene, pricing roller coaster07:20 – Forward-looking view on propylene and IPA through 202409:05 – Ethanol market dynamics10:36 – Synthetic market flux11:46 – End market applications, impact of weight-l...2024-06-2514 minSmart Acids™Global Supply Chain 360 + Baltimore Key Bridge IncidentWhat’s the current state of our global supply chain and what’s driving costs, efficiencies and risk to the maritime shipping network? The Smart Acids return to navigate what's happening at sea with Jeff “Starbuck” Dixon, Director of International Trade Services for Univar Solutions. Listen now as Dixon discusses how carriers are withstanding disruptions such as the Baltimore Key Bridge incident, how the supply chain is impacted by geopolitical factors, climate change and associated regulations, artificial intelligence, and more.3:10 - Bonus game: Chris and Andy put Jeff to the test on all things related to ships...2024-04-2515 minSmart Acids™Chef Mike's top food trends of 2024 + culinary product developmentWhat's shaping the future of food and beverage markets? Chef Mike Haracz brings his corporate chef expertise to the Smart Acids table to discuss the innovative landscape of the food industry and culinary product development. Let's dig into top food trends of 2024, including cost engineering, manufacturing better-for-you products, and reformulating with wholesome, healthier ingredients for health and nutrition. As Smart Acids host Andy Erickson says, "give it a tasty! Bonus game: Do you know your dining table etiquette?Chef Mike Haracz is an R&D professional with more than 18 years of experience working for a v...2024-03-0523 minSmart Acids™Smart Acids' excellent adventure through science history and chemical innovation"Everything in our world is chemistry and chemistry is everywhere in our lives," - David Allen Cole, CEO of the Science History InstituteThis episode is one for the history books. Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome "The Historian" David Allen Cole, CEO of the Science History Institute, to share stories and historical context around the perception of chemicals, areas of upcoming chemistry innovation, historical scares and advances within chemistry, and how the chemical industry's past informs our present as we innovate and solve for the future. Bonus: Dwayne "The Rock" Roark, U...2024-01-2319 minSmart Acids™BASF shares global production outlook + why do producers need distributors?Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome Detroit native and BASF Strategic Customer Network Leader Jarrett "Hustle" Russell to share a global outlook about what’s happening with production and demand across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America. Tune in for a chemical industry insider’s take on potential challenges associated with economic recovery and the value of the producer/distributor relationship. BASF is a European multinational company and the largest chemical producer in the world, with headquarters located in Ludwigshafen, Germany.Smart Acids™ is the source for product insights and current market...2023-11-1410 minSmart Acids™Energy Commodities Report: Is Oil & Gas dead?Smart Acids hosts Andy and Chris welcome Chris "The Foreman" McAfee, Senior Director of Energy Upstream at Univar Solutions, for a view on the oil and gas industry landscape, what’s ahead for commodities, and the rising price per barrel. But first, see if an uncaffeinated Chris lives up to his Energy Director credentials when he takes the Smart Acids Energy Drink quiz. 4:58 – Energy sector breakdown: Upstream, Downstream, Midstream 5:43 – Energy market overview 6:53 – Oil & gas outlook 8:14 – Green energy movement and its impact on oil & gas industry 9:15 – Growing gas prices going forward and $200 oil barrels?2023-10-1112 minSmart Acids™Ethanol Update Part 2: Navigating specially denatured alcohol permitsSmart Acids hosts Andy and Chris welcome back our resident expert of alcohol (the alcohol with two carbons, aka ethanol), Product Director Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski, for a quick rundown of the different classifications and regulatory requirements of ethanol products.1:33 - Differences among ethanol classifications 2:00 - Undenatured ethanol2:14 - Specially denatured alcohol 3:30 - Distilled spirits permit4:25 - Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB.gov) and SDA formulations5:45 - How Univar Solutions can help you navigate this product market intelSmart Acids™ is the source for...2023-09-2807 minSmart Acids™The Industrial/Beverage split: Ethanol product movesReturning guest Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski, product director at Univar Solutions, talks about all things ethanol, including its changing landscape, the role of imports and non-GMO, and how this essential – and circular – product moves from fuel to industrial to beverage and food-grade alcohols. Tune in for product insights and test your musical knowledge as we go through the changes. Smart Acids™ is the source for product insights and current market moves related to chemical and specialty ingredient distribution—breaking it all down one boron at a time. Join hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst for straightf...2023-08-3011 minSmart Acids™Industrial Specialty Chemicals: Down to the nitty-grittySmart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome Univar Solutions VP Industrial Solutions Michael ‘Diamond Delli’ DelliCompagni to talk about the industrial side of specialty chemicals, market moves in this segment, how the cost of borrowing is impacting manufacturers, and what’s most exciting about upcoming trends. Also, find out how you measure up against our guest in the ‘rhymes with gritty’ game.Smart Acids™ is the source for product insights and current market moves related to chemical and specialty ingredient distribution—breaking it all down one boron at a time. Join hosts Andy Erickson and C...2023-07-2514 minSmart Acids™Smart Acids go to Washington - Featuring NACD CEO Eric ByerSmart Acids hosts Andy Erickson, Chris Ernst and special guest host Dwayne ‘the self-proclaimed Rock’ Roark welcome CEO of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD), Eric ‘the filibuster’ Byer, to talk critical policy issues facing the chemical distribution industry and the role that NACD is playing.Special guest host intro, Dwayne ‘the self-proclaimed Rock’ Roark (1:55)Welcome Eric ‘the fillibuster’ Byer (3:25)Bonus round: Do you know your fictional CEOs? (5:03)Current political climate in Washington, D.C. (7:25)Railway Safety Act – the junction of union + pro-business NACD (8:55)Other current key industry trends (12:23)NACD updates and how to get involved (13:30)Environmental justice and Respon...2023-06-1721 minSmart Acids™Ag Market: Growth, circularity, and seasonal changesLet’s talk all things ag – seasons, cycles, and other organic matters. Special guest Christian Jeuris, Agriculture Business Development Manager at Univar Solutions, helps us get to the bottom of Agriculture’s cyclical market, the state of the upcoming season, current industry challenges, and the latest innovations. Think product synergies and soil health. Why are players in the Ag space bullish on our present market? We’ve got you covered but not before the Smart Acids Ag Quiz puts Christian’s and our listeners’ knowledge to the test. Smart Acids™ is the source for product insights and cu...2023-04-1511 minSmart Acids™Do you know your pale ales? Plus ethanol, IPA, and propylene pricing dynamicsSmart Acids host Andy Erickson and the hops to his hazy pale ale, co-host Chris Ernst, talk IPAs – isopropyl alcohol vs the latest craft brews – with Product Director Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski. Hear market updates and pricing dynamics for ethanol, IPA, and propylene.Bonus round: do you know your IPAs and pale ales?IPA UpdatesPropylene pricing dynamicsCircularity and pushing for reuseEthanol UpdatesSustainability push into formulationsFuel players moving into industrial200 vs 190 proof?Smart Acids™ is the source for product insights and current market moves...2023-03-0309 minSmart Acids™Current State of Trucking: Part 2 transportation market breakdownBreaker-Breaker...Transportation Leader Rob McRae knows what’s driving the future of distribution. In this episode, McRae takes a comparative look at the truck transportation subsector and current state of today's carriers, and why our very own Univar Solutions fleet – the largest private fleet inside the chemical industry – can go the distance for customers. 10-4."It's a hyper inflated or hyper deflated market," McRae reports. "Only if you have good predictive analytics can you afford to do an annual bid. But an annual bid will really help to mitigate some of those cost inflation points. So, if we hav...2023-02-1009 minSmart Acids™Reliance on rail: Part 1 transportation market breakdownTransportation Logistician Rob “The Rainmaker” McRae has a passion for all things that move. In this episode, McRae gives the Smart Acids team a market update on the rail transportation subsector, current freight shipping capacity, talk of rail-related embargoes, and what is affecting the overall health of today's rail network. "For us as a chemical and ingredient distributor and others in the chemical market, it's important to view capacity as a long-term investment and establish those partnerships as opposed to the short-term rate negotiations," McRae reports.Smart Acids™ is the source for pro...2023-01-2714 min