Better the Pond---PondCast

About Better the Pond---PondCast

The "Better the Pond—PondCast," hosted by Warren Barry, is a business-focused podcast that features conversations with individuals who are making positive impacts in their communities and beyond. Each episode delves into the personal stories and initiatives of guests who are "bettering the pond" through acts of generosity, innovation, and leadership. The podcast aims to inspire listeners by showcasing how individual actions can create ripples of positive change.

Publisher

Warren Barry

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Jun 2020

Latest episode

5 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

5 of 115 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   5 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   #118 Pondcast with Bob Lund

   In this episode of the Better the Pond Pondcast, Warren Barry sits down with Bob Lund, Corporate Health & Safety Manager at Main Road Group, for a candid and grounded conversation about youth in trades, safety leadership, and building meaningful career pathways. Bob shares his unexpected journey from mills, electrical work, and Alberta oil fields into safety management, highlighting how curiosity, mentorship, and hands-on experience shaped his career. Together, they explore what makes Main Road’s employee-owned, family-style culture exceptional, and why safety is less about rules and more about influence, ethics, and trust. The conversation expands to the future of trades, education, and technology, challenging the idea that university is the only path to success. Warren and Bob emphasize the importance of early exposure, pre-apprenticeship programs, and real-world experience for young people—especially hands-on learners who thrive when building something tangible. They also discuss how AI will augment, not replace, skilled trades, reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human judgment, empathy, and experience. At its core, this episode is a reminder that the trades offer purpose, pride, financial stability, and the opportunity to make a real impact—on people, communities, and the youth get to leave their fingerprints on the world. Website: Mainroad Highway Asset Management, Road & Bridge Maintenance (https://mainroad.ca/) LinkedIn: (1) Robert Lund | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lund-363115b1/) Instagram:  @boblund79

2. 

   11 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   #117 Pondcast with Valerie Paris

   From farm roots to the C-suite, Valerie Paris, COO of Durvet Corporation, has built her career on hard work, humility, and heart. In this episode, Valerie shares her incredible journey—from growing up on a Missouri farm to leading a national animal health cooperative. We talk about leadership, self-advocacy, and how empowering others can ripple far beyond the workplace. Valerie also opens up about her upcoming book, Be Her Biggest Fan, a collection of real and raw stories about parenting, perseverance, and raising strong, independent kids. One powerful moment in the book completely changed how she saw herself as both a mother and a leader. Topics that take flight: • Raising kids who can hear “no” and still soar • Leadership through kindness and empowerment • The art of self-promotion without ego • How grace and gratitude can transform workplace culture It’s her first-ever podcast appearance—and it’s a flocking great one! Tune in now and connect with Valerie at https://www.linkedin.com/in/valarieparis/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/valarieparis/) to follow her journey and upcoming book release.

3. 

   16 Nov 2025

   #116 Pondcast with Safety Dave- Youth in the Trades

   Today, I’m diving into a topic that’s very close to my heart — the future of our workforce and the incredible opportunities waiting for young people in the trades. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dave Speerbrecker of Thyssen Mining, and this conversation really hit home. We explored the real challenges of attracting youth into the trades — what’s getting in the way — and how we can ignite curiosity, build confidence, and inspire the next generation to roll up their sleeves and build something meaningful. If you caught my earlier episode with Josh Wood of West Shore Home, you’ll notice a theme. The trades aren’t just jobs — they’re legacies. They’re the foundations of our communities, and it’s up to us to ensure the next generation gets every opportunity to leave their fingerprints on the world. So, grab a coffee, settle in, and join me for this important conversation about building pathways, sparking passion, and helping the next generation take flight. I’d love to hear your thoughts — how can we do more to inspire youth to pursue careers in the trades?

Inside a recent episode

#118 Pondcast with Bob Lund

Published 5 Feb 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Well, one of the things that I find interesting something that I talk about is, you know, when, if your toilet plugs, no one from Harvard is going to come fix it for you, and the second thing is, is that, you know, in the time that we're in now with AI and AI is all the talk, it's all the rage and everybody's leaning into it, but AI will never put electricity in your house. AI will never plumb your house. AI will never frame your house. AI will never roof your house. And as we, you know, as kids are coming up and there was, you know, before I think there was a big push, you know, become a doctor, become a lawyer, become an accountant, become an, you know, an engineer was, you know, and then the trades were something that, well, if you couldn't do this, I guess, you know, I guess, you know, the fall off was to go into trades, which is a narrative that I'd like to change. […]

Who has been a guest on Better the Pond---PondCast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dave Speerbrecker
• Burt Dew
• Jason Belles
• Ed Gibbs
• Patrick Owen

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

45

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

27

Contact Better the Pond---PondCast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Better the Pond---PondCast