Arizona Copper Country, Global Mining Projects, Leadership & Legacy

Recorded at the historic Ore House in Oracle, Arizona, this episode marks Part 2 of Hector Denogean's incredible mining journey. If you haven't heard the beginning of Hector's story, be sure to check out Episode #164 first.

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Hector shares how his career became more than just a mining story — it evolved into a legacy built underground, across borders, and through generations of miners. From helping support Resolution Copper and mentoring young miners at the San Xavier training mine, to working projects throughout Nevada, Mexico, and South America, Hector reflects on a lifetime dedicated to hard rock mining and the people behind it.

Hector opens up about the realities of the industry, including leadership, safety, sacrifice, family, and the emotional weight carried by miners who have witnessed both tragedy and triumph underground. He also shares stories from cartel-controlled mining regions in Mexico, consulting on world-class international projects, and the lessons learned from decades spent working alongside some of the best miners in the world.

Episode #164- Part 1: Hector Denogean

Episode #225- Part 2: Hector Denogean

Episode Sponsors:

AngloGold Ashanti North America

Safety First Training & Consulting

Walsh Reclamation Inc.

Episode Chapters:

02:33 Mammoth Memorial and Copper Corridor

07:07 Training the Next Generation

11:21 Community Impact and Responsible Mining

26:19 Traveling Mines Nevada to Michigan

32:39 Rock Bursts Explained

35:49 Memorials and Respect

41:14 Mexico Work Begins

50:40 Cartel Road Encounters

59:04 Visible Ore and Theft

01:08:41 Career Reflection and Expos

01:14:41 Family Roots in Sonora

01:28:50 Final Colombia Assignment

01:37:07 Advice to Young Miners

From Service to Safety, Building Trust, and Leading Forward

In Episode #224 of the Mining Minds Podcast, we sit down with Mary Koerner, Health, Safety & Security Manager at AngloGold Ashanti's Nevada project, to explore what it truly means to build safety and culture from the ground up—at a stage where every decision carries weight.

From growing up in a small Montana town to serving 12 years in the Army Reserves, Mary shares how her experiences have shaped her approach to leadership today. Her path through mining, manufacturing, and other industries has given her a unique perspective—one that blends technical expertise with a deep understanding of people.

She dives into the difference between systems and culture, why health hazards often go unnoticed compared to visible safety risks, and what it takes to earn trust in environments where credibility isn't given—it's built over time. Drawing from her experience across multiple industries, Mary reflects on the challenge of adapting her leadership style and applying best practices in new environments.

To learn more about AngloGold's Nevada Projects and to sign up for their e-newsletter click the link: https://nevadaprojects.anglogoldashanti.com/newsletter/

A special thank you to AngloGold Ashanti for supporting Mining Minds and helping us showcase the incredible people and opportunities that make this industry.

Episode Sponsors:

JSR Fleet Performance

Walsh Reclamation Inc.

Safety First Training & Consulting

Episode Chapters:

02:06 Growing Up Montana

06:51 Deployment And Coming Home

13:57 College And Newmont Start

17:58 Industrial Hygiene Explained

21:30 AI And Exposure Data

28:41 Beyond Mining New Industries

36:12 Regulators And Standards

42:39 Paper Mill Safety Transfer

47:48 Montana Reset And Youth Work

55:25 Starting A New Mine

58:32 Anglo Safety Culture

01:01:52 Community Safety Outreach

Betting on Yourself, Breaking Cycles, and Building Something Bigger

Recorded from the Copper Brothel Brewery in Sonoita, Arizona, Mining Minds sits down with longtime friend and the Bald Mountain Bad Boy himself, Mike Hill, for a conversation filled with lasting lessons, career pivots, and the realities of rebuilding yourself both inside and outside the mining industry.

Mike didn't follow a clean path into mining—or out of it. He walked away from home in Colorado knowing he needed a reset, landed in Nevada chasing opportunity, and got thrown straight into the deep end of underground mining with zero experience and a whole lot to prove.

From getting torn apart on the radio as a new nipper to figuring out how to lead teams, build culture, and navigate failure, his story is a series of pivots most people wouldn't take.

And he didn't stop there.

He walked away from mining. Started over. Took hits personally and professionally. Rebuilt again. Now, he's helping lead a growing business at Liberty Fence & Supply, developing people, and creating something completely new with the Copper Brothel Brewery.

Episode Sponsors:

AngloGold Ashanti

Walsh Reclamation Inc.

Safety First Training & Consulting

Episode Chapters:

02:53 Colorado Roots and Family

07:17 First Mining Job as a Temp

14:29 Getting Broken In

30:39 Leveraging Experience for Next Step

32:05 Supply Chain Reality Check

40:13 Authenticity Wins Jobs

44:17 Initiative Beyond Warehouse

51:46 Bald Mountain Bad Boys

54:51 Family Money and Overtime

01:08:07 Job Hopping as Growth

01:17:38 Safety Clash and Injury Wakeup

01:24:59 Scaling Liberty Fence Nationwide