Episodes

  • Episode 205: Bryan Mills of CP Carbide

    Episode 205: Bryan Mills of CP Carbide
    May 27 2026
    Cliff sits down with Bryan Mills of CP Carbide — a California-based, three-generation family business that has been privately sourcing and supplying tungsten carbide wear parts since 1995.

    Bryan breaks down how his dad's 1988 trip to China started it all, why CP Carbide's private-label model means their name almost never appears on the product, and what it's like to watch tungsten prices hit levels that haven't been seen since World War Two.

    Plus: the honest conversation about polycrystalline diamond as a rising alternative, Trump's critical minerals vault, and what happens when quotes go stale in less than 24 hours.



    Hosted by Cliff Nance of Tungco — where hard work meets honest talk about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
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    22 mins
  • Episode 204: Matthew Keske of Vermeer Corporation

    Episode 204: Matthew Keske of Vermeer Corporation
    May 20 2026
    Cliff sits down with Matt Keske, commodity manager for Wear Tools at Vermeer Corporation — one of the most diversified heavy equipment manufacturers in the world — to talk tungsten, supply chain strategy, and what 30 years inside a company that's a mile long actually looks like.

    Matt breaks down how AI infrastructure and data center build-outs are quietly driving underground drilling demand, why strategic partnerships matter more than spot pricing when metals markets get chaotic, and what it means to be a wear tools buyer navigating today's commodity headwinds.

    Plus: the tornado that leveled a steel building and left only concrete — and how that rebuilt Plant 7 is now one of the best in Pella.

    Hosted by Cliff Nance of Tungco — where hard work meets honest talk about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
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    16 mins
  • Episode 203: Ashley Hunsaker of HTS Coatings

    Episode 203: Ashley Hunsaker of HTS Coatings
    May 13 2026
    Cliff sits down with Ashley Hunsaker, co-founder and CEO of HTS Coatings, for one of the most candid conversations about building a business from scratch — eight months pregnant, living in an 800-square-foot house, and saying yes when everyone else was saying no.

    Ashley breaks down what thermal spray coatings actually do (hint: they're inside the landing gear on the plane you flew here on), how HTS developed a proprietary chrome alternative with near-zero porosity, and why the tungsten price environment is forcing the whole industry to ask hard questions.

    A family business story that's equal parts grit, strategy, and a husband who briefly said 'I quit' at exactly the wrong moment.

    Hosted by Cliff Nance of Tungco — where hard work meets honest talk about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
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    25 mins
  • Episode 202: Chris Capps of Tungco Procurement

    Episode 202: Chris Capps of Tungco Procurement
    May 6 2026
    Cliff sits down with one of Tungco's own — procurement specialist Chris Capps — to talk tungsten markets, trust in volatile times, and what 16-plus years inside a carbide recycling operation actually teaches you.

    From sorting bits to strategic buying, Chris breaks down why the current tungsten pricing environment is unlike anything the industry has ever seen, and why trust might be the most valuable commodity of all. Plus: boats, baby milestones, and a Rolex with a story behind it.

    Hosted by Cliff Nance of Tungco — where hard work meets honest talk about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
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    22 mins
  • Episode 201: Austin Hargett of weld.com

    Episode 201: Austin Hargett of weld.com
    Apr 29 2026
    Cliff sits down with Austin Hargett of weld.com to swap stories, talk high-pressure pipe welding for power plants and refineries, and revisit a legendary night on the Sunset Strip that ended at Whisky a Go Go.

    Austin breaks down what makes weld.com a go-to resource for welders working in the most demanding industrial environments.

    Equal parts industry insight and "great friend hands you the last drink" energy.

    #CliffsNotes #Welding #weldDOTcom #AustinHargett #CONEXPO #IndustrialPodcast #SunsetStripSettings:
    • Episode number: 201
    • Season: 2
    • Episode type: Full
    • Explicit: Yes - discusses alcohol
    • Cover art: Custom episode artwork, or it'll inherit the show's default
    • Category/tags: Business, Careers, or Industry (matches show's primary category)


    Hosted by Cliff Nance of Tungco — where hard work meets honest talk about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
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    33 mins
  • Project 74 Announcement Cliff's Notes — Special Edition | Recorded Live at ReMA 2026, Las Vegas

    Project 74 Announcement Cliff's Notes — Special Edition | Recorded Live at ReMA 2026, Las Vegas
    Apr 22 2026
    Recorded live on the floor at ReMA 2026 in Las Vegas, this special edition of Cliff's Notes officially announces Project 74 — Tungco's Urban Mining Initiative and a landmark partnership with Victor Fox of the Chem-Met Company and Furkhat Faizulla of Syram Corporation, built on one powerful premise: converting domestic tungsten scrap into sodium tungstate, the critical intermediate chemical that nearly 100% of all tungsten products must pass through before becoming a finished part, and keeping those strategic units inside the United States.

    Cliff, Victor, and Furkhat break down why tungsten has surged 5x in price over the last eight months, how China's export restrictions and zero domestic primary production have created a historic supply squeeze, where tungsten shows up across tool steels, defense, AI chip manufacturing, drone components, and TSA security equipment, and why Project 74's reshoring mission — expanding U.S. processing capacity for scrap that would otherwise leave the country — is exactly what the American industrial base needs right now.

    Learn more about Tungco at www.tungco.com.

    Learn about Project 74 at www.project74.com



    Hosted by Cliff Nance of Tungco — where hard work meets honest talk about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
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    31 mins
  • Episode 107: Brice Littlepage, Managing Director, North America at Tungco

    Episode 107: Brice Littlepage, Managing Director, North America at Tungco
    Jan 7 2026
    (00:00:00) Introduction from Helsinki (00:01:58) Discussing paternity leave and supporting new parents (00:04:51) Navigating misinformation and building confidence (00:08:00) Brice's career journey: From Florida State to Tungco (00:17:00) NCAA regulations and intentional touchpoints (00:25:02) Starting recruitment early (age 12-13!) (00:27:03) Comparing Tungco's recruitment to Florida State (00:28:39) Predictors of success in tungsten operations (00:31:29) Closing thoughts and gratitude What does recruiting elite basketball players have in common with building a world-class tungsten recycling team? More than you'd think.In this episode of Cliff's Notes, CEO Cliff Nance sits down with Brice Littlepage—Tungco's North American Managing Director and former Associate Head Coach for Operations at Florida State University—for a conversation about recruitment strategy, company culture, and what the tungsten industry can learn from Division 1 athletics.Recording from Helsinki, Finland during a business trip, the conversation covers Brice's systematic approach at Florida State used to identify and recruit top basketball talent—and how those principles could transform hiring practices in the metal recycling industry.IN THIS EPISODE:🏀 How college basketball programs identify prospects as young as 12-13 years old• Building relationships over 4+ years before commitment• The systematic process of nurturing thousands of prospects down to 5-15 final candidates• Why being "first" to connect matters in recruitment🔧 Translation to the Tungsten Industry• How Tungco's current recruitment compares to D1 athletics• The difference between transactional hiring and relationship-based talent acquisition• Creating intentional, multi-touchpoint recruitment processes• Why you're recruiting an "ecosystem," not just a candidate📊 Predictors of Success in Tungsten Operations • Why military veterans excel in tungsten recycling operations• The "multi-hat" challenge: identifying who can handle diverse responsibilities• The importance of personality assessments and practical evaluations• Building better screening tools before making offers🏢 The Campus Visit Strategy• How Florida State created orchestrated official visit experiences• Applying the same intentionality to manufacturing facility tours• Recruiting the whole person: family, relocation, community considerations• Making your tungsten operation shine for top talent👶 Supporting People Through Life Transitions • Discussion of Tungco's paternity leave policy• The connection between supporting employees' personal lives and professional performance• Why "if your home's good, family's good, then you can be a good employee too"💡 KEY INSIGHTS:"Without the people, you're nothing. You are a brand. You have an operation, but really you're nothing." - Brice Littlepage"Florida State does it way earlier in comparison, more intentionally. I mean, you might have four or five visits before you ever commit.""Every time we get someone that's got military experience, they are almost excited to rip out SOPs or update SOPs.""At the end of the day, the decision needs to be theirs in a way. But some people are just going to make a decision with their family. And so if you're not pleasing everybody and you're not winning everybody over, you're probably not getting them."Theme song written and performed by Adam Howell.ABOUT THE GUESTS:Cliff Nance is CEO of Tungco, a global leader in tungsten carbide reclamation and raw feed supply. As the son of Tungco founder Steve Nance, Cliff has filled many roles over 24 years—from the plant floor to VP of Operations to his current position. His passions are faith, family, and community.Brice Littlepage serves as Managing Director of North America at Tungco. He previously spent eight years at Florida State University, progressing from video coordinator to Director of Basketball Operations to Associate Head Coach for Operations. He brings Division 1 talent acquisition expertise to the tungsten recycling industry. Brice and his wife are expecting their first child in late 2025.ABOUT TUNGCO:Tungco isn't just processing tungsten—they're reclaiming it, refining it, and giving it a second life, just like they've done with the company itself, generation after generation. Built in backyards and barns by hands that understood both hard work and heavy metal, Tungco has grown into a global supplier operating locally.Tungco specializes in tungsten carbide reclamation and raw feed supply to tungsten carbide suppliers and consumers. As a global leader in the tungsten recycling industry, Tungco supplies truckload quantities of material to consumers who recycle and produce new tungsten products. The company serves oil and gas, machining, thermal spray, aerospace, energy, healthcare, automotive, and manufacturing industries worldwide.Mission: Provide exceptional service and deliver high-performance tungsten products ...
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    33 mins
  • Episode 106: Jonathan Goodrum, President of Basic Carbide Corp

    Episode 106: Jonathan Goodrum, President of Basic Carbide Corp
    Dec 17 2025
    (00:00:00) Introduction
    (00:03:05) Misfit Social Podcast & Evan's Respect
    (00:03:31) Basic Carbide: 44 Years of Excellence
    (00:05:49) The February 2024 Acquisition Story
    (00:07:53) Sintering Process: From Chalk to Diamond-Hard
    (00:09:09) Quality Control & Microscopy
    (00:10:07) Mirror Polish & Complex Geometries
    (00:12:15) Mutual Respect & Friendship

    In this heartfelt episode of Cliff's Notes, Cliff Nance sits down with Jonathan Goodrum, President of Basic Carbide Corporation, for an intimate conversation about family business, tungsten carbide manufacturing excellence, and the relationships that define the tungsten recycling industry.
    Jonathan "Johnny Cavs" Goodrum shares his remarkable journey from working at Basic Carbide since age 14 to leading the company through 44 years of innovation and growth. Discover the American dream story of the Goodrum family and learn how Basic Carbide became a fully integrated tungsten carbide manufacturer after their strategic February 2024 acquisition.

    In this episode, you'll learn:
    • The intricate process of tungsten carbide manufacturing - from isostatic pressing to sintering to mirror-polish finishing
    • How tungsten carbide transforms from a "chalk-like" green state into one of the hardest man-made materials
    • The role of cobalt and nickel binders in creating diamond-hard tungsten carbide components• Quality control processes using 200X and 1500X magnification microscopy
    • Strategic vertical integration in tungsten carbide manufacturing
    • How family values and multi-generational leadership shape business success
    • The importance of relationships over transactions in the metals industry

    Jonathan opens up about becoming a father to Baby Ari (turning 2 in October) and how fatherhood has transformed his perspective on life and business. He shares touching stories about his late mother's impact on everyone she met and the deep respect between the Nance and Goodrum families built over decades in the tungsten industry.

    This episode offers valuable technical insights for tungsten industry professionals including tungsten recyclers, carbide manufacturers, scrap dealers, and anyone using tungsten carbide products in oil and gas, aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, medical, or military applications. Whether you're sourcing tungsten carbide scrap, looking for secondary tungsten materials, or interested in precision manufacturing processes, this conversation delivers practical knowledge and industry context.

    Cliff and Jonathan discuss the challenges of COVID-era labor shortages, the evolution of customer demands from preform blanks to fully finished components, and how strategic acquisitions can solve supply chain integration problems. They also share laughs about luxury Loro Piana shoes, discuss Cliff's son Evan's respect for Jonathan, and even joke about creating a "tungsten tequila" together.
    Basic Carbide Corporation, founded in 1981, specializes in complex geometry tungsten carbide preforms and precision-finished components for demanding applications. With dedicated manufacturing facilities for both cobalt binder and nickel binder materials, plus high-volume pressing capabilities, Basic Carbide delivers exceptional quality, competitive pricing, and industry-leading lead times.

    Tungco is the premiere global leader in tungsten recycling and tungsten carbide reclamation. For over 50 years, Tungco has specialized in tungsten carbide scrap reclamation and secondary tungsten raw material supply, serving industries worldwide with a "Whatever it Takes" commitment to customer service and relationship-first business practices.

    Connect with Tungco at www.tungco.com for tungsten carbide scrap recycling, tungsten powder procurement, tungsten alloys, and comprehensive tungsten reclamation services across our global divisions: 74 Alloys, Tungco Powder Procurement (TPP), Tungco GmbH, HSS Recycling, Lineage Metallurgical, and Cuda Grit.

    This is Cliff's Notes - where authentic conversations happen between industry leaders, innovators, and the people who make tungsten move. Every episode explores the human side of the metals industry, the stories behind the metal, and the relationships that define success in global tungsten markets.

    Theme song written and performed by Adam Howell.

    Hosted by Cliff Nance of Tungco — where hard work meets honest talk about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts.
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    14 mins