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PODCAST

Inside IALR

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Inside IALR explores the ways that the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) catalyzes economic transformation. Listen for a behind-the-scenes view of how our programs, people and partnerships are impacting Southern Virginia and beyond. Host Caleb Ayers and Producer Daniel Dalton interview someone new every episode, introducing listeners to IALR leaders and partners, promoting programs and highlighting opportunities to connect with us. New episodes are published every other

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All Episodes

33:47

Beyond the Surface: Exploring the History, Science,...

Inside IALR ·

2025/12/15

What do submarines, aircraft and even theme park rides have in common? They all rely on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to ensure safety and reliability. In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers talks with Phil Bowers, NDT instructor for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program, and Michael Donnelly, NDT manager with Industrial Inspection & Analysis at the Center for Manufacturing Advancement. Together, they unpack the fascinating history of NDT — from its or...

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26:22

A Day in the Life of a Researcher

Inside IALR ·

2025/12/01

In this episode of Inside IALR, we sit down with two of our most experienced research associates, Amy Turner and Rob Chretien. Each has more than a decade of hands-on experience in IALR's research labs. They've witnessed significant changes in agricultural research, from theoretical plant genetics to cutting-edge applied science, during that time. Learn about their work with beneficial plant bacteria (endophytes), precision agriculture and controlled environment systems that promi...

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37:56

Why More Companies Are Hiring and Upskilling Talent...

Inside IALR ·

2025/11/17

This episode shifts the focus from student success stories to the broader impact of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program on the maritime industrial base. Joined by Mike Villanueva of BAE Systems, Michael Ripich of AT&F, and Justin Scarce from ATDM, the conversation explores how companies are leveraging ATDM graduates to fill vital roles in shipbuilding and defense manufacturing. From welding and NDT to CNC machining, the program’s accelerated, hands-on training...

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25:47

Practical Tips to Integrate AI in Manufacturing and...

Inside IALR ·

2025/11/03

Host Caleb Ayers sits down with Meredith Gregory, Director of Digital Strategy and Program Management, to explore the real-world applications of artificial intelligence in manufacturing and business. Meredith shares her journey from Northern Virginia to IALR, explains the foundational math behind AI and discusses how companies can adopt AI tools to solve specific problems. From resume restructuring to computer vision for defect detection, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyo...

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40:37

"Don’t Tell Me No, Tell Me How:" Additive...

Inside IALR ·

2025/10/20

In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers is joined by Ereina Avery (Austal USA), Jon Harrison (Phillips Corporation), and Jason Wells (IALR) for a deep dive into the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE). Together, they explore how this unique public-private consortium is transforming the Navy’s supply chain by developing and deploying 3D-printed parts for ships and submarines. From powder bed fusion to wire arc deposition, the team breaks down the technologies, the cha...

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21:45

Career Demos and Dreams: A Day at Career ChoICE Youth...

Inside IALR ·

2025/10/06

In this special episode of Inside IALR, we take you straight to the floor of the Career ChoICE Youth Expo, a dynamic, hands-on career fair designed for middle and high school students across Southern Virginia. Hear directly from students as they explore everything from virtual reality welding and flight simulators to radiologic technology and forestry. Employers and educators share why this event matters—and how it's helping shape the region’s future workforce. Whether it's a seventh gr...

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23:46

Skills, Certifications and Career Opportunities: ATDM...

Inside IALR ·

2025/09/22

The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is preparing the next generation of skilled workers for the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base. With an 85% job placement rate and graduates from nearly every state, ATDM is creating real career opportunities. In this episode, recent graduates Dylan Carter and Angel Gallaher describe how the program equipped them with technical expertise, industry certifications and career-ready confidence. The Institute for Advanc...

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29:17

Balancing Flexibility, Strategy and Exponential...

Inside IALR ·

2025/09/08

In this episode of Inside IALR, we sit down with President Telly Tucker and Executive Vice President of Operations Dr. John Hughes for a wide-ranging conversation about growth, leadership and the mission of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. From managing exponential expansion to filling workforce gaps, Tucker and Hughes reflect on how IALR continues to transform lives in Southern Virginia and beyond. Along the way, they share candid insights on challenges, opportunities, and t...

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22:11

Women at the Torch: Leading and Inspiring at ATDM

Inside IALR ·

2025/08/25

What is it like to be a woman teaching advanced manufacturing in a field where men make up the majority? Hear it from three members of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) instructional team: welding instructor Makayla Baker, metrology instructor Holly Lyle and welding technician Autumn King. As the only women on a team of nearly 40 instructors and technicians, they share their career journeys, classroom experiences and what it means to mentor the next generation of m...

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24:02

Growing Talent at the CEA Innovation Center

Inside IALR ·

2025/08/11

What happens when Ph.D. candidates, master’s students, undergrads and interns all share the same greenhouse? You get a powerful, layered research environment that grows more than just plants. In this episode of Inside IALR, we explore how the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center is not only advancing sustainable agriculture but also training the next generation of researchers and industry leaders. A partnership between IALR and Virginia Tech, the CEA Innovation Center bl...

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25:54

Inside the Internship: Stories from IALR’s Summer...

Inside IALR ·

2025/07/28

What is it like to be an intern at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research? In this episode of Inside IALR, hear from five of the 18 interns who spent their summer working across IALR’s divisions—from applied research and economic development to manufacturing advancement and GO TEC. You’ll hear from: Grayson Snead, an ag tech intern researching bacterial endophytes in broccoli microgreensDilara Sultanova, a data-savvy Empower intern building automation tools and career resourcesDanie...

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23:53

Tracking Plant Growth Pixel by Pixel

Inside IALR ·

2025/07/14

What if you could track a plant’s health and growth every 15 minutes, all automatically and without ever touching it? In this episode of Inside IALR, Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, explores the SMART Platform—IALR’s Spatially and Mechanically Accurate Robotic Table system. These high-tech tables combine robotics, precision imaging and automation to capture tens of thousands of data points per experiment, helping resear...

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35:21

Registered Apprenticeship Best Practices and Lessons...

Inside IALR ·

2025/06/02

Registered apprenticeships pair paid, hands-on work with classroom lessons to grow dependable talent. In this Inside IALR episode, host Caleb Ayers talks with: Natori Neal – Apprenticeship Coordinator, IALR’s EXTRA programJenny Spitzer – Co-owner, Spitzer Inc. (electrical contractors)Josh Arnold – Master Electrician and lead instructor at SpitzerJacob Oakes – Second-year electrical apprenticeThey share insights on: How a registered apprenticeship is structured, from day-one wages to a journey...

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30:51

The Life-Changing Impact of a Four-Month Training...

Inside IALR ·

2025/05/19

In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers talks with Patrick Crowley and Ronald Green, recent graduates from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. Listen in as they share: Patrick’s transition from logistics to CNC machining for more impactful work.Ron’s journey from entrepreneurship in fashion to welding for career stability.Their intense and rewarding four-month ATDM training experience.How they overcame challenges and built camaraderie with classmates.The...

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25:09

Measuring Down to the Micron: How Metrology Supports...

Inside IALR ·

2025/05/05

In this episode of Inside IALR, we dive deep into the world of metrology, a crucial trade that plays a significant role in national defense manufacturing. The episode features Tony Almeida, Regional Sales Manager at Mitutoyo, and Jarrod Hankins, Metrology Instructor at IALR's Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. Metrology is the science of measurement. It ensures that parts are manufactured with incredible precision, often down to microns. Together, they highlig...

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27:56

Restoring Hope: the Mission of God's Pit Crew

Inside IALR ·

2025/04/14

Let's hear from Randy Johnson, founder of God's Pit Crew, a faith-based disaster relief organization headquartered in Danville, Virginia, and Tracy Fink, Vice President of the IALR Conference Center. God's Pit Crew has transformed from a simple altar prayer into an extensive operation that has responded to over 200 disasters across more than 30 states and 15 countries in their 26-year history. Randy shares the remarkable growth of God's Pit Crew and explains their strategic four-pronged disas...

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32:13

Career Exploration in 73 Middle Schools

Inside IALR ·

2025/03/31

Let's hear from Jake Taylor, Technical and Training Manager of the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program managed by IALR. GO TEC is an innovative career initiative providing middle school students across Virginia with engaging, hands-on experiences in technology, manufacturing and engineering careers. Jake shares how GO Tec rapidly expanded from a pilot program in Danville and Pittsylvania County to over 50 middle schools statewide, with further gro...

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19:07

Internship Support for Southern Virginia Employers

Inside IALR ·

2025/03/17

Internships create powerful win-win opportunities for both students and employers when structured properly. IALR's Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Kiana Dillard, explains how these programs build talent pipelines while giving students valuable real-world experience. • Internships provide structured learning opportunities where students develop skills while exploring potential career paths • IALR offers personalized consultation to help businesses create meaningful internship experiences • S...

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30:40

From Trainees to Trainers: The ATDM Additive Journey

Inside IALR ·

2025/03/03

This episode features Daniel Hyler and Tim Holland—two graduates turned additive manufacturing instructors with the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. Hear them discuss lessons they picked up along the way, plus real-world applications of additive manufacturing in today’s job market. Listen in as they discuss: Jumping from Student to Instructor: How they found their calling in the classroom.The ‘Light Bulb’ Moment: Why watching a student finally “get it” is so rewar...

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21:45

Building Stronger Local Food Systems

Inside IALR ·

2025/02/17

In this episode of Inside IALR, Value Chain Coordinator Mitchell Doss highlights a new initiative aimed at strengthening Southern Virginia’s local food ecosystem. Funded by a Tobacco Commission grant, Mitchell’s work focuses on helping farmers broaden their reach to new markets while ensuring communities gain greater access to fresh, local produce and products. Hear how Mitchell’s journey—from IALR intern to horticulture researcher—shapes his approach to connecting producers, institutions, an...

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59 results

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