EC&M On Air

In this Next-Gen Insights, Ellen Parson is joined by Austin Hays, Apprenticeship Coordinator at Claypool Electric, Inc., to discuss what has helped him succeed in his career and as a 2025 EC&M 30 Under 30 All Star honoree. They discuss what led Austin to a career in the electrical industry, advice for young professionals, work-life balance, and more!

We're highlighting a popular past article that ran online in a special audio-only format. This article is read by Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson and was originally published on the EC&M website in October. Written by Theo Brillhart, this article explores into how the chief barrier in EV adoption is now "charging anxiety" and the reliability of EV charging infrastructure.

Ellen Parson sits down with Jim Lucy, Editor-in-Chief of EC&M’s sister publications, Electrical Wholesaling and Electrical Marketing. They discuss Lucy's 2026 construction forecast that appeared in the December 2025 issue of EC&M. Lucy breaks down trends, drivers to look out for, and more. Learn more about what to expect for the construction industry in this new year.

For Episode 94, we're highlighting a popular past article that ran online in a special audio-only format. This article is read by Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson and was originally published on the EC&M website in October. Written by one of EC&M's trusted subject matter experts, Mark Lamendola, this article defines what safety should look like across organizations and for individuals based on NFPA 70E requirements. 

In Episode 93 of EC&M On Air, Sophia Pike, electrical engineer III with Syska Hennessey Group, joins Ellen Parson to discuss what has helped her succeed so early in her career as a 2025 EC&M 30 Under 30 All Star honoree. They discuss how Sophia got interested in electrical design and data center work, tips she'd share with other young professionals in the industry, key technology to stay sharp with, and more.  

In our final full-length episode of 2025, Ellen Parson and the rest of the EC&M editorial team are highlighting some of the most memorable and popular content of this past year. Ellen highlights topics like the top 2026 National Electrical Code changes and what AI means for the electrical industry. Managing Editor Ellie Coggins Angus covers what's going on with The Everyday Electrician (including our first viral Instagram reel!), safety-related trends, and some of Freelancer Tom Zind's best reporting work of the year (his most popular article was about why there are so many abandoned construction projects and what that means for electrical professionals). Editor Michael Morris shares what industry he's been observing this year when it comes to electric vehicles, top Tech Talk topics from subject matter expert Randy Barnett, covering the Everyday Electrician's top product picks from NECA, and popular, downloadable e-books from our library. 

This bonus episode of EC&M On Air, sponsored by Wesco, explores how the rapid growth of AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure is reshaping the data center market and pushing development beyond traditional core locations. Host Ellen Parson is joined by Wesco subject matter expert David Speidelsbach to examine the forces driving unprecedented demand, the strain being placed on established data center hubs, and why emerging and tertiary markets are becoming the next frontier for development. The conversation dives into the benefits and challenges of building data centers in these new regions, including cost advantages, access to land and renewable energy, tax incentives, and the realities of labor, water, and infrastructure constraints. David also shares guidance for electrical contractors navigating these complex projects, highlighting the importance of early collaboration, strong partnerships, and supply chain coordination. Throughout the discussion, listeners gain practical insight into how contractors and suppliers can successfully support large-scale, mission-critical data center builds in an evolving market.

We're bringing listeners another special episode of EC&M On Air for Episdoe 91. This Next-Gen Insights ep features a conversation with Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson and 2025 30 Under 30 honoree Luis Llamas, master electrician and owner of Salvador Electric in Mechanicville, Md.  They discuss what a day in the life looks like for Luis, industry trends, and more. If you want to get to know more about Luis, read his 30 Under 30 profile. 

Philip Keebler, a senior electrical power engineer at PBE Engineers, shares his expertise on grounding and power quality. He explains how a stable ground acts as a backup neutral to ensure minimal voltage fluctuations. Common grounding mistakes and code limits are highlighted, along with an engaging volleyball-net analogy that illustrates the importance of solid grounding connections. James also addresses the impact of harmonic currents on voltage distortion and the risks of ground loops on signal integrity, offering practical tips for verifying grounding effectiveness.

In Episode 90 of EC&M On Air, Ellen Parson features an ICYMI-style show. This is an audio-only version of a popular past online-only article published in August 2025 by one of our longtime experts and contributors, Mark Lamendola. It covers electrical maintenance and repair best practices and why faster does NOT always equal more efficient when it comes to these jobs.  Listen to the article read here or check out the original article online.