In this episode of PowerGridTalks, host Thomas Williamson sits down with Miles Bell, Justin McCarson, and Heath Burrell in Kansas the week of the International Lineman's Rodeo. The three Duke Energy linemen talk about their roles off the pole in tools and work methods, reliability, and work planning, how Duke picks the teams it sends to the rodeo, and how they got into the trade. They also get into the hundreds of hours they put in to prepare, how to get ready for mystery events, why the hurt man rescue is the most important event out there, the 2023 belt buckle, missing the podium by eight tenths of a second, and why competing in the rodeo makes you a better lineman.
Update: At the 2026 International Lineman's Rodeo, Miles, Justin, and Heath took first place in Journeyman Mystery Event #1 and second place overall in the journeyman division.
Presented by Tallman Equipment Company.
0:00 - Sponsor: Tallman Equipment
0:46 - Show Intro
1:07 - At the International Lineman's Rodeo with Duke Energy
2:01 - Meet Miles Bell: Tools & Work Methods
4:22 - Meet Justin McCarson: Reliability
5:33 - Meet Heath Burrell: Resource Specialist
6:28 - How Duke Picks Its Rodeo Teams
7:58 - Hurry Up and Wait
8:38 - How They Got Into the Trade
11:48 - Why Compete in the Rodeo?
13:54 - Practicing on Nights & Weekends
15:00 - Known Events vs. Mystery Events
16:56 - Favorite Events & Why Hurt Man Matters
18:46 - Winning Hurt Man in 2023
20:07 - Competition Morning Nerves
21:13 - Speed vs. Accuracy: Every Tenth Counts
22:18 - Waiting for Results & Sizing Up Rivals
24:57 - Coming Home: Banter from the Crew
26:51 - Does the Rodeo Make Better Linemen?
29:22 - Staying Loose Before the Climb
30:49 - Advice for Apprentices: Just Do It
32:13 - Game Faces & Trash Talk
34:14 - Thanks to Duke, Families & Customers
36:40 - Closing & Sign-Off
🔌 More episodes, show notes, and ways to connect: https://powergridtalks.com/
If you enjoyed this conversation, hit subscribe, drop a like, and leave a review. It helps us keep bringing more voices from across the utility world to the table.
#PowerGridTalks #LinemansRodeo #DukeEnergy #Lineman #LineWork #HurtManRescue #PowerLineman #JourneymanLineman #UtilityIndustry #LinemanLife